June 7, 2016

EUGENE, Ore.– The 2016 season comes to a close this week with the NCAA Outdoor National Championships, competing out at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. The Gamecocks have six individuals making their first trips ever to the national meet, and four who have already combined for nine All-American honors. On top of that, the team will send three relays to nationals: the men’s and women’s 4×100 and the women’s 4×400.

The team had one of its best regional meets in recent memory after earning 13 bids to the national championships between the men’s and women’s programs. The team had one qualifier Thursday, four Friday, and five individuals and three relays made it in on Saturday, marking one of the most successful performances for the program in the last decade. The Gamecocks didn’t just qualify, though, hey did it in style, with five of the ten individuals reaching new personal bests in their respective events during the regional met (Jermaine Collier, Dondre Echols, Ncincilili Titi, Tyler Brockington, Natasha Dicks).

The meet will be live on national TV for all four days across the ESPN family of networks. Gamecock fans can watch the action on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m. and ESPN2 at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, on ESPNU at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, at 8 p.m. on ESPN Thursday, on ESPN Friday at 8:30 and on ESPN Saturday at 6:30. All times Eastern.

SOUTH CAROLINA MEN’S NATIONAL QUALIFIERS
Josh Awotunde | Shot Put | Franklinville, N.J. | Exercise Science
• First trip to nationals
• #4 in school history for the shot put
• Scored at SECs in shot put and discus
• #20 nationally in the shot put

Jermaine Collier | 110m Hurdles | Trenton, N.J. | Sociology
• First trip to nationals in the 110m hurdles
• 2015 2nd team All-American in the 4×400 relay
• #8 in school history for 110mH
• Scored at SECs in 110mH and 4×400 relay

Dondre Echols | 110m Hurdles | Oxon Hill, Md. | Advertising
• First trip to outdoor nationals
• East Regional champion in the 110m hurdles
• #2 nationally in the 110m hurdles (13.35 seconds)
• 2016 Indoor All-American (60mH)

Jussi Kanervo | 400m Hurdles | Espoo, Finland | Business Management
• 3rd-straight year as national qualifier
• 2015 outdoor All-American
• #6 in school history for the 400m hurdles
• #7 nationally in the 400m hurdles

Ncincilili Titi | 200m | Pretoria, South Africa | Public Health
• First trip to outdoor nationals
• #6 in school history for the 200m
• 2nd-team All-American at 2016 indoor nationals
• #16 nationally in the 200m

Kaleb Zuidema | Javelin | Midland Park, N.J. | Hospitality Management
• Second trip to nationals (2014 honorable mention All-American)
• #3 in school history for the javelin
• Placed 4th at SEC Championships
• #22 nationally in the javelin

SOUTH CAROLINA WOMEN’S NATIONAL QUALIFIERS
Aliyah Abrams | 400m | Grayson, Ga. | Exercise Science
• Fastest freshman in the nation for the 400m
• #9 in school history for the 400m (52.04)
• Scored at SECs in 400m and 4x400m relay
• #15 nationally in the 400m

Tyler Brockington | 400m Hurdles | Greensboro, N.C. | Advertising
• Six-time All-American (Four outdoors)
• #5 in school history for the 400m hurdles
• #15 nationally in the 400m hurdles
• Also running on the 4×1 and 4×4 relays

Natasha Dicks | Triple Jump | Aiken, S.C. | Broadcast Journalism
• Bronze medalist at 2016 indoor nationals
• School record-holder in the triple jump (44-7 ½)
• Team USA Olympic trials qualifier
• #5 nationally in the triple jump

Shelby Freedman | Javelin| Danville, Pa. | Exercise Science
• First trip to nationals
• #2 in school history for the javelin
• Scored at SECs in javelin (6th place)
• #14 nationally in the javelin

For up-to-the-minute information all weekend, follow @GamecockTrack on Twitter.