May 23, 2013

Results

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Sophomore Kayla Lampe broke her own 10,000-meter school record with a time of 33:43.95 to qualify for the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships and five Gamecocks advanced to quarterfinals on the first day of the NCAA East Preliminary Round at Irwin Belk Track.

After being patient for the majority of the race, Lampe began making her move on the bell lap, passing multiple runners to secure her top-12 spot. Lampe broke a 15-year-old school record earlier this season at the Raleigh Relays with a time of 34:26.99. Her time of 33:43.95 betters her entry in the Gamecock record book and is the 24th-fastest time in the nation this season entering the preliminary rounds.

Greensboro native and freshman Tyler Brockington, enjoyed her first race on her hometown track this week, running a 57.40 in the first round of the 400-meter hurdles. PR-ing for the second time in her last three races, Brockington finished second in her heat to automatically advance to tomorrow’s quarterfinals. The time also vaults the freshman into the all-time South Carolina top 10 in the eighth spot.

Sophomore Tamera Harris also advanced to tomorrow’s 400-meter hurdle quarterfinals. Harris clocked in at 58.40 to advance on time with third fastest of the non-automatic qualifiers. The two Gamecocks will race at 7:30 p.m. ET tomorrow.

Junior Chris Royster and freshman Kendall Kee also advanced to event quarterfinals. Royster recorded a 10.33 to finish second in his heat to automatically move on in the 100-meter dash. Kee clocked in at a new personal-best 10.38 to advance on time. The men’s 100-meter dash quarterfinals are slated for 6:45 p.m. ET tomorrow.

Sophomore Erika Rucker was the fifth Gamecock to advance to quarterfinals on Thursday, recording a collegiate-best 52.07 in the 400-meter dash. By crossing the line first in her heat, Rucker advanced. Her time was the second-best of the day and lowers her time in the South Carolina record book where she sits in ninth place. Rucker will attempt to make a return trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. ET.

For the fourth-consecutive season, the country has been split into two regions – East and West – with the top 48 athletes (24 relays) in each region qualifying for the Preliminary Round. The East Preliminary is being held in Greensboro, N.C., with the West Preliminary taking place in Austin, Texas. The event quarterfinals include 24 student-athletes, 12 of which will receive trips to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., June 5-8.

In addition to the quarterfinal action tomorrow, the high hurdle races kick off with senior Kierre Beckles followed by freshmen Dondre Echols and Jermaine Collier. Pole Vaulter Petra Olsen and high jumper Jeannelle Scheper, both juniors, also vie for a ticket to the NCAA Championships. The Gamecocks begin their day with Olsen on the field and Beckles on the track at 5 p.m. ET.