Titi Vaults into NCAA Lead at Gamecock Invitational

April 15, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. — University of South Carolina junior Ncincilili Titi made history on Saturday as he ran a 200m school record at the Gamecock Invitational. Not only was Titi’s mark of 20.14 (+1.7) the best in Carolina history, it also leads the NCAA and ranks third in the entire world this season.

Titi took the victory in the first heat of the race, smashing Carolina’s previous record. His time of 20.14 is 0.2 seconds faster than Rodney Martin’s previous school record of 20.34, set in 2005. The NCAA’s second-fastest time of the season came in the same heat, as Georgia’s Kendal Williams clocked in at 20.32.

Only two athletes stand ahead of Titi on the 2017 world list in the 200m, and both are fellow South Africa natives. Akani Simbine recorded a time of 19.95, and Clarence Munyai finished in 20.10 on March 4 in Pretoria, South Africa.

Titi was one of six Gamecocks to win an individual event on Saturday, joining Josh Awotunde (shot put and discus), Nakita Gray (high jump), Kara Lyles (400mH), Yann Randrianasolo (long jump) and Armand Woodley (pole vault). Carolina also won both the men’s and women’s 4x100m relays.

Carolina easily cruised to victory in the women’s 4x100m relay. Rougui Sow, Taranisha Taylor, Makyla Stanley and Maiya Dendy turned in a time of 45.41 for their fourth win of the season in the event.

The men’s 4x100m was much closer but also resulted in a Gamecock victory. Darrell Singleton Jr., David Winters, DeVon Lewis and Ncincilili Titi cut .01 off their season best to take the win in 39.42, .28 faster than Georgia. The new season best ranks 11th in the nation.

Gray finished in the top four of her first four competitions this season, and she scored a breakthrough victory on Saturday. The senior entered the week ranked eighth in the nation in the high jump, and she jumped 5-10 ¾ for the win.

Lyles set a new PR by almost a second on Saturday to win the 400mH for the first time in her collegiate career. The sophomore stopped the clock in 58.90, the NCAA East Region’s 17th-best mark this season.

Awotunde chalked up his first outdoor shot put victory, winning Saturday’s meet by almost seven feet. The junior entered the day ranked second in the NCAA, and he notched an effort of 63-7 ¾ for the victory. Teammate Eric Favors placed second, at 56-9 ¼.

Later in the day, Awotunde won the discus with a mark of 176-11. Ben Bonhurst came in third, and Favors chalked up fourth.

Woodley added a Carolina victory in the pole vault, his first this season. The sophomore’s mark of 16-0 ¾ is his new personal best, and it’s the third time this season he has eclipsed his previous PR.

Randrianasolo set a PR for the second straight week with his winning mark of 25-4 ¾. That effort ranks fifth in Carolina history and sixth in the NCAA this season.

Colleen Openshaw led the Gamecocks in the first event to finish, the women’s 5000m. She placed second, her best result of the season, in a time of 18:10.45

Sow added a fifth-place result in the 100mH, and she was the top collegiate finisher. Her time of 13.47 ranks 17th in the nation this season and ranks just outside of Carolina’s all-time top-10.

Freshman Anna Kathryn Stoddard continued her strong season with a big effort in the 1500m. The Greenwood, S.C., native turned in a time of 4:39.21, less than a half-second out of the top spot and a new season best.

Another freshman that continued to find success on Saturday was Hailey Sweatman. The pole vaulter matched her PR by clearing 12-7 ½, and she was the top collegiate finisher at the event.

Sophomore Makyla Stanley grabbed a fifth-place result in the 100m by smashing her PR. The Charleston, S.C., native shaved over a tenth of a second off of her previous top effort with a mark of 11.58, which won her heat.

Clarence Gallop recorded his fourth podium finish of the season in the hammer throw. The senior recorded a top mark of 207-4 on Saturday and placed second among collegians.

Senior David Winters brought the Cregger Track crowd to their feet with his effort in the 100m. Winters set his season best and ran the 10th-fastest time in Carolina history, a mark of 10.30. He finished second on the afternoon, and he also had a third-place result in the 200m, with a time of 20.76.

Otis Jones grabbed second place in the 800m for the second week in a row. Jones tallied a mark of 1:50.20 at Cregger Track, just a half-second shy of first.

Freshman Alycia Springs added another strong effort to her breakout freshman season when she placed third in the discus. The Charlotte, N.C., native finished on the podium for the fifth time this outdoor season with a mark of 144-1.

NOTABLE

Competing unattached, Gamecock junior Shelby Freedman won the javelin. Her top mark was 154-0, nine feet clear of the field.

QUOTING HEAD COACH Curtis Frye

UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS

South Carolina returns to Cregger Track next Saturday for the USC Open. Action begins at 9 a.m. as Carolina closes out their 2017 home schedule.