March 4, 2015

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Selections for the 2015 Division I indoor track and field championships were announced Tuesday evening, with four student-athletes from the Carolina men’s team punching a ticket for Fayetteville, Ark. Jermaine Collier, Dondre Echols and Jussi Kanervo qualified in the 60-meter hurdles, and Ncincilili Titi qualified in the 200-meter dash.

The four entries are the most for the men’s team since sending five to the 2010 indoor championship.

Collier ended the regular season on a high note last weekend, earning bronze in the 60mH at the SEC Championships in Kentucky. The junior from Trenton, N.J. owns the ninth-fastest time in the country for the event, 7.76 set at the Tyson Invitational, coincidentally the same track that will host the national championships. This will be his first trip to indoor nationals.

Echols came a few thousandths of a second from getting a chance at the finals of the 60mH at the SECs, but enters the national championship with a chance at a title. The junior from Oxon Hill, Md. ran the second-fastest time in the country for the indoor season, a 7.72 at the Armory Invitational on Jan. 31. This will be his first trip to indoor nationals.

Kanervo earned his spot at nationals in the final weekend of the season, running a 7.77 preliminary race at the SEC Championship to qualify with the 12th-fastest time in the country. The sophomore from Espoo, Finland was an honorable mention All-American in the outdoor season last year for the 400mH, This is his first nationals berth for the indoor.

Titi joined the team in January and made an instant impact, competing in the 60 and 200m. Like Collier, he earned his qualifying time at Arkansas, running a 20.87 time in the 200 at the Arkansas Open on Feb. 21. He lowered his time in the 200 in each of the final six races of the regular season and enters nationals with the 12th-fastest time in the country.

The two-day championships begin Friday, March 13 at the Randall Tyson Track Complex. ESPN3 will stream the meet live on March 13 and 14 starting at 7 p.m. ET. A tape delay of the championship will air March 23 starting at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU.