June 11, 2015

Results | Photo Gallery

EUGENE, Ore. – The South Carolina track and field team opened competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships Wednesday, and put themselves in position to score in a pair of events through the first day of action. Jussi Kanervo qualified for Friday’s 400-meter hurdle final, and Markus Leemet sits in seventh overall after the first five events in the decathlon.

Just a few weeks removed from a bronze-medal finish in the decathlon at the SEC Championships, Leemet started off his week at nationals with an impressive performance. The sophomore set season bests in three of the five events Wednesday, and totaled 4027 points. After taking eighth in the 100 (10.99), he went for a personal-best 7.13 meter in the long jump to finish 12. Another personal best in the shot put (45-8) would push him higher in the overall standings after he finished fifth.

The high jump would be a turning point for his day, as he overcame long odds to score well and keep pace with the field. He would miss on his first two attempts at 1.81 meters, but responded with a successful attempt. After cruising past the next two heights, he found himself again on the verge of fouling out at 1.90. His third attempt would be successful and he would finish at 1.93, a difference of over 50 points in the overall standings.

To close the day, he would win his heat of the 400 with a time of 49.12, another season best. His day one total of 4,027 points is another personal best for him and puts him just 150 points out of third place overall and 203 away from leader Pau Tonnesen of Arizona.

Jussi Kanervo kept the positive vibes flowing in his 400-meter hurdle semifinal. In his second-straight NCAA championship, the sophomore improved upon his freshman performance to qualify for Friday’s final. He finished second overall in his heat to earn an automatic bid, crossing in a time of 50.28, and had the sixth-best time overall in the qualifying round.

In the relays, Carolina would take 19th overall in the 4×100 semifinal and earned second-team All-America status with a 12th-place finish in the 4×4. The 400 relay team of Kendall Kee, Clayton Gravesande, Chris Walker and Ryan Bermudez ran a time of 40.17. Gravesande, Walker and Bermudez would return in the nightcap, joined by Jermaine Collier in the 4×4. The quartet finished with a time of 3:06.73.

QUOTABLE

South Carolina Head Coach Curtis Frye

On Marcus’ Day of Events
He had a tremendous day, but that’s what the championships are all about and there are so many athletes in there that can put up big scores. This meet, with the way people are competing right now, it’ll probably take right around where he’s at to finish in the top eight. He’s going to need to have one heck of a day tomorrow, but he’s capable of that.

Breaking Down Jussi’s Semifinal Race
He did not run his best race, he ran his first three hurdle in a time that would have put him in the low 49s and then he backed down a little bit. He’s in pain right now and I’m sure he’s thinking about that, but coming off the second-to-last hurdle he made his mind up that he would get top two, he knew the situation, and he made it.

UP NEXT

Leemet’s quest for All-America wraps up tomorrow morning on the west coast, beginning with the 110-meter hurdles at 10 a.m. PST. He will be the team’s only athlete in action.