May 11, 2017

Results

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Thursday was a day to celebrate for the University of South Carolina track & field program, as the Gamecocks hosted the opening day of the 2017 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Sheila & Morris Cregger Track was filled to capacity, and Carolina gave the home crowd a show, with several strong performances on the first of the meet’s three days.

Senior Clarence Gallop led the way for the Gamecocks, scoring the first points of the meet for Carolina in the hammer throw. Tyler Brockington (400mH) and Ncincilili Titi (200m) qualified for finals in their primary events, while decathletes Alexandre Asselin and Markus Leemet put themselves in position to earn significant points midway through their competition.

After three events on the men’s side, the Gamecocks occupy a tie for ninth place, with three points. The Carolina women have yet to officially score a point, though only two of 21 women’s events have been completed.

Gallop was the first Gamecock to put points on the board, as he finished sixth in the meet’s first final, the hammer throw. The senior posted a top effort of 215-7; it’s the second time the Providence, R.I., native has scored at SECs after he placed fifth in the same event in 2015.

Titi entered the 200m prelims with the nation’s fastest time, 20.14, and he coasted to victory in heat one to book his spot in Saturday’s conference final. The junior clocked in at 20.29, the fourth-fastest time of the day.

Brockington spent two weeks at the top of the national leaderboard in the 400mH, and the senior was back in action Thursday in her featured event. The nine-time All-American used a late surge to win the third and final heat for an automatic spot in Saturday’s final. Her time of 57.28 was the fifth-best of the prelims session.

The Gamecocks got off to a great start in the decathlon, which completed five of ten events on Thursday. Leemet set PRs in the 100m, shot put and 400m and sits in third overall, with 4,114 points. Asselin upped his high jump PR to 6-6 ¼ and stands in sixth position, with 3,820 points. After each achieving one-day personal bests, the decathletes take on the final five events on Friday.

QUOTING HEAD COACH Curtis Frye

UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS

The SEC Championships continue Friday at Cregger Track, including 10 conference titles up for grabs. The action starts at 11 a.m. ET.