Jan. 10, 2018
2018 USTFCCCA NATIONAL POLL — INDOOR PRESEASON
NEW ORLEANS, La. — The University of South Carolina women’s track & field team is ranked No. 17 in the first U.S. Track & Field & Cross Country Coaches Association national computer rankings of the year, it was announced today. The preseason ranking is the highest for Curtis Frye’s team since 2009, when it began the season 16th.
The Gamecock women feature four student-athletes with individual preseason rankings. Leading the way is newcomer Lissa Labiche, whose existing high jump mark of 6-2 ¼ is ranked fourth in the nation. Long jumper Rougui Sow ranks sixth in the long jump, at 21-2 ½, and Aliyah Abrams holds the sixth-best 400m time, at 52.60. Rounding out the quartet, senior sprinter Precious Holmes is listed 11th in the 400m, entering the season with a mark of 53.10.
Carolina has finished in the top-25 in each of the past three indoor seasons, including a 25th-place result at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships.
The Gamecock men are listed just outside of the top-25 to start the indoor season, at No. 34. Senior sprinter Ncincilili Titi leads the way, with his 200m mark of 20.67 ranked third in the country.
Four other Gamecocks are listed in the USTFCCA’s preseason individual men’s rankings: Josh Awotunde is listed 11th in the shot put, at 64-6, Isaiah Moore holds the 14th-best 60m hurdles listing, at 7.77, Tye Williams is ranked 19th in the high jump, with a mark of 7-1 ¾, and Eric Favors is ranked 33rd in the shot put, at 60-6 ½.
The USTFCCCA’s preseason rankings are compiled using each returning athlete’s top collegiate marks from the 2017 season. In certain cases, collegiate marks from before 2017 are applied, and transfers are eligible with a qualifying junior college or international mark. True freshmen are not eligible for the preseason poll, and marks must come from indoor competition. A complete listing of the marks used to determine this week’s poll can be found here.
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
The Gamecocks open their 2018 campaign on Saturday, Jan. 13, when they compete at the Navy Winter Invitational in Annapolis, Md. The meet is the first of 20 competitions for Carolina in 2018, including home meets March 23-24, April 7 and April 21 at Sheila & Morris Cregger Track in Columbia.
