Gamecock Jumpers Climb National Rankings at Tiger Tuneup

Feb. 17, 2017

CLEMSON, S.C. – Two Gamecock jumpers surged up the national leaderboard on Friday as the University of South Carolina competed at the Tiger Tuneup. Rougui Sow was victorious in the long jump and Natasha Dicks took the triple jump, with both student-athletes moving into the NCAA top-15 at the Clemson Indoor Track Facility.

In addition to the victories from Sow and Dicks, the Gamecocks achieved a third event victory with freshman Alycia Springs winning the shot put.

Friday’s event was the last indoor regular-season meet of the year, with a select group of Gamecocks refining their performances before next week’s SEC Indoor Championships.

Sow won the long jump with a new PR of 20-11 ¼, but more important than the victory was the impact her final leap of the day made on the national rankings and Gamecock record books. The Le Havre, France, native is now listed 10th in the NCAA this season and third in Carolina history.

Dicks also climbed the national leaderboard this season with her triple jump victory. The senior’s mark of 43-5 ¼ is a new season best and ranks 14th nationally.

After setting new personal bests each of the last two weeks, Springs earned her first collegiate victory on Friday afternoon. The freshman topped the field in the shot put with a throw of 47-1.

Freshman Hailey Sweatman hit a new PR and finished second in the pole vault. She cleared 12-9 ½ to notch a new personal best on Friday.

On the men’s side, another Gamecock came in second place as Armand Woodley finished runner-up on Friday. The sophomore cleared 14-11 on his best effort of the day.

Yann Randrianasolo added another podium finish to his ledger on Friday afternoon. The 33rd-ranked long jumper in the nation heading into Friday, Randrianasolo tallied a mark of 23-6 ¾ to finish third, including tops among collegiate entrants.

In the prelims of the 60mH, Taranisha Taylor qualified fourth with a time of 8.37. She was faster in the finals, placing third with a run of 8.27, just .02 off her personal best. Her time was fastest among collegiate entrants.

In the 400m, Briana Haith was the lone Gamecock to compete Friday. The senior placed second, in 55.22

Redshirt freshman Eric Favors placed second in the shot put on Friday. Favors achieved a mark of 58-1 for his fourth podium finish of the season.

In the 200m, Tyler Brockington ran a new PR to build momentum for the postseason. The senior clocked in at 23.60 and placed third in Friday’s competition.

QUOTING HEAD COACH Curtis Frye

UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS

It’s on to the SEC Indoor Championships next week for the Gamecocks. The first postseason event of the 2017 season is scheduled for Feb. 24-25 at the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Complex in Nashville.