May 26, 2011

Results

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By Miquel Jacobs
Media Relations Assistant

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Every Gamecock that hit the track in the running events advanced to the quarterfinals as South Carolina concluded the first day of competition in the NCAA Preliminary Round at Robert C. Haugh Track on the campus of Indiana University.

South Carolina had six entries hit the track Thursday with the men’s and women’s 100-meter dash, women’s 400-meter hurdles and men’s 400-meter dash runners each advancing to compete in Friday’s quarterfinals for the right to earn a bid to the NCAA Championship Finals in Des Moines, Iowa. Each event began with 48 athletes, and the top 24 advance to the quarterfinals with the top 12 in that round advancing to Des Moines.

Seniors Lakya Brookins and Gabrielle Glenn both advanced in the women’s 100-meter dash, making the Gamecocks one of four teams to have a pair of teammates both advance in the event. Brookins took fourth in the first round with a time of 11.46 while Glenn came in 20th at 11.62.

A pair of Gamecock men also advanced in the 100-meter dash with senior Antonio Sales earning an automatic spot by taking second in his heat at 10.57, and freshman Chris Royster placing 23rd overall at 10.52. The two mark one of five duos of teammates to qualify in the men’s 100-meter with Sales placing 12th overall and Royster advancing out of the most competitive heat of the day that saw six athletes in one heat all make the quarterfinal.

Freshman Amber Allen took 24th overall in the 400-meter hurdle prelims to qualify for Friday’s NCAA quarterfinal round. Allen raced to a time of 1:00.20 to earn her qualifying spot and is one of just two freshmen in the east preliminary round to advance to the quarterfinal.

Clayton Gravesande also advanced to the quarterfinals in his first regional appearance. The freshman from New Jersey took 19th overall at 47.54 after rain delayed the event for 15 minutes, and he will compete in the quarterfinal Friday at 5:45 p.m.

Sophomore David Wilkins cleared 6’11 (2.11m) on his final attempt but did not advance to the championship final after tying for 15th overall. Freshman Angie Rummans competed in the women’s pole vault but was one of 36 athletes that did not advance in the event as rain began to hit the track late in the afternoon.

Competition continues Saturday morning at 11 a.m. when the men’s hammer throw begins with Michael Zajac taking the field for the Gamecocks. The running events will begin at 4:30 p.m. with Kierre Beckles and Janica Austin in the 100-meter hurdles.