June 20, 2013

Event Home Page

DES MOINES, Iowa – Freshman Lisa Zimmer advanced to the 800-meter final at the USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the second of the national event’s five days at Drake Stadium.

Zimmer’s lifetime-best time of 2:10.30 qualified her for tomorrow’s final on time. The Gamecock will run tomorrow at 8:20 p.m. ET.

Fellow freshman Anna Todd also ran in the women’s 800 meters, clocking in at 2:14.84 despite injuries.

“We’re so proud of Lisa for going home and following instructions to come in here prepared. She ran an outdoor best and really ran like a champion. To make that final is outstanding for her. The effort by Todd to run 2:14 while she’s battling injuries, I could not be more elated about her effort,” said track and field head coach Curtis Frye.

“For the young persons to be training at home, it shows our kids have extraordinary discipline. I’m thrilled that they did that. They represented the University of South Carolina well. We look forward to her having a great run tomorrow. She has exceeded expectations already. This is thrilling,” Frye added.

The USA Outdoor Track & Field Senior Championships are also being held at Drake Stadium this week with the event serving as qualification for the 14th IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Moscow, Russia, Aug. 10-18, 2013. The top three finishers in each event at the USA Outdoor Championships move on to represent the US, provided they have reached the A standard.

Frye and assistant head coach Delethea Quarles were appointed as Team USA assistant coaches for IAAF World Championships and are in Iowa for Team USA duties in addition to overseeing the Gamecocks in the junior championships. Eight former Gamecocks will try to punch their ticket to Moscow over the next four days.