Gamecocks Begin Vanderbilt Invitational with More Strong Efforts

Jan. 20, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The University of South Carolina opened their journey at the Vanderbilt Invitational on Friday evening with junior Ncincilili Titi setting the tone for another successful weekend. Titi captured the men’s 200m dash, with four additional Gamecocks finishing on the podium in their respective events at the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility.

Titi was victorious in the 200 last weekend at Clemson, and he repeated the feat against even stronger competition on Friday. The junior entered the weekend ranked sixth in the nation in the event and is sure to maintain his momentum after yet another first-place result.

Friday also continued the climb up the program records list for several Gamecocks. Juniors Tye Williams and Rougui Sow achieved new top-10 marks, as did sophomore Makyla Stanley.

Williams provided one of the night’s early highlights with his effort in the high jump. The junior’s mark of 7-1 ¾ was good for second place and a new personal best. Additionally, the mark ranks third in school history and is the 11th-best performance in the nation so far this season.

Carolina also got a podium finish from Briana Haith in the 200m. The senior won her heat with a time of 24.38 and finished second overall. Teammate Maiya Dendy also won her heat, and she clocked in fourth overall with a time of 24.62.

A newcomer to the roster this season, Sow made her Carolina debut on Friday night and immediately left her mark on the Gamecock record books. Her long jump mark of 20-7 ¼ stands fourth in program history and was good for second in the competition on Friday. She finished tops among collegiate entrants, and her mark ranks ninth in the country this season. Stanley was right on her heels, finishing fifth; her leap of 19-10 ¼ is eighth-best in Carolina history. Last but not least, senior Natasha Dicks finished seventh.

Titi put the Gamecocks in the winner’s circle for the first time this week when he triumphed in the 200m dash. The junior won the first heat of the evening, then watched as 11 subsequent heats were unable to match his time of 21.26.

Carolina’s last top-three finish came in the men’s weight throw. Clarence Gallop’s throw of 61-9 ¾ was good for third overall, and second among collegiate competitors.

NOTABLE

Several additional Gamecocks topped existing personal records on Friday night, including Jordan Fields in the high jump, Kierstin Williams and Alycia Springs in the weight throw and Armand Woodley in the pole vault. With the majority of the meet scheduled for Saturday, more records are sure to be achieved before the Gamecocks leave Nashville.

QUOTING HEAD COACH Curtis Frye

QUOTING ASSISTANT COACH Delethea Quarles

QUOTING JUNIOR Tye Williams

UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS

The Gamecocks are back at it tomorrow for the final day of the Vanderbilt Invitational. Action resumes at 9:45 a.m. CT, with the first Gamecock in action at 10:30 a.m. CT.