March 30, 2018
Outdoor Meet #3 — Florida Relays
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — University of South Carolina sprinter Ncincilili Titi made his 2018 outdoor debut Friday night at the Florida Relays, and the senior stole the show at Percy Beard Track by winning the 200m collegiate invitational with a time of 20.36. That’s the fastest 200m run in the NCAA this season.
Titi’s performance was the highlight of a dreary weather day in Gainesville that forced the postponement of several events and limited the competition opportunities for Carolina’s roster.
Though the Gamecocks fielded a limited lineup Friday, several Carolina student-athletes joined Titi by posting strong performances. Aliyah Abrams just missed a season-best in the 400m. The redshirt sophomore ran her second-best mark of the year, stopping the clock in 52.91 to finish in seventh place.
KD Young finished with her best day of the young season, improving in the discus for the third consecutive week. Her throw of 151-0 was almost two feet better than her prior season best, and it was good for ninth place on Friday.
Otis Jones just missed a PR in the 800m, fighting through the conditions to finish in 13th place. His time of 1:49.37 was just a second off of his best effort in his signature event.
Titi was in action for the first time since March 10, when he finished fifth at the NCAA Indoor Championships. A seven-time All-American, the Butterworth, South Africa, native moved into the 2018 NCAA lead with his mark of 20.36. It’s his fourth-best outdoor 200m effort as a collegian.
Shelby Freedman capped a long day in Gainesville by finishing sixth in the javelin throw. In her third meet of the season, Freedman’s best effort of the day checked in a 151-2.
NOTABLE
Because of rain, several events were postponed until Saturday, including Hanifah Abdulqadir in the women’s high jump invitational and Hailey Sweatman in the women’s pole vault.
FROM THE COACH
“I was surprised to see Titi run as fast as he did, because he’s still not 100 percent. He felt sluggish running the race, and conditions were bad, but he powered through. That should tell him something about himself. There were a lot of great runners in that race, and he beat them. It’s maybe the most impressive head-to-head run he’s ever had. Aliyah ran well, especially in the conditions, and I’m pleased with how well KD threw. Lesser athletes would not have done as well. Our kids are competing hard. We’re playing it safe with the conditions, but I’m very happy with what our student-athletes are doing this week.” – Head Coach Curtis Frye
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
Carolina is in action Saturday to finish the Florida Relays, with events beginning at 11 a.m. ET.
| FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018 • FLORIDA RELAYS • MEN’S RESULTS |
| Collegiate 5000m |
| 21. Carson Strom |
14:53.96 |
| Collegiate 4x400m Prelims |
| –. Robbins, Leemet, Jones, Gyllensten |
DNF |
| Collegiate Long Jump |
| –. Markus Leemet |
F |
| FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018 • FLORIDA RELAYS • WOMEN’S RESULTS |
