May 25, 2018
2018 NCAA East Regional — Day #2
TAMPA, Fla. — Sophomore Aliyah Abrams became the fourth Gamecock this week to earn a trip to nationals as the University of South Carolina track & field team competed Friday at the 2018 NCAA East Regional. Abrams earned an NCAA Championships berth in the 400m, while teammates Caitlyn Little and Ncincilili Titi advanced to the quarterfinal round.
Abrams joins Lissa Labiche (high jump), Yann Randrianasolo (long jump) and Rougui Sow (long jump) as Gamecocks headed to Eugene June 6-9 for the national championship meet. The three jumps squad members earned their NCAA tickets on Thursday, the first of three days at USF Track & Field Stadium.
Abrams ran the 13th-fastest first-round time on Thursday, and with 12 spots up for grabs in Friday’s quarterfinal round, she knew she’d have to improve on her second run to make it to nationals. The redshirt sophomore did that and more, matching her collegiate best with a mark of 52.04. That ranked ninth in Carolina history, but it was fourth-best in the second heat, meaning Abrams had to wait for the final heat before she could celebrate. When the third heat times were posted, Abrams’ mark held up as the second-best non-automatic mark, sending the Grayson, Ga., native to the NCAA Championships for the second time.
Abrams will be looking to improve on her 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships appearance, when she finished ninth individually to earn second-team All-America honors in the 400m.
Little made her NCAA debut Friday and breezed through to the quarterfinal round. The freshman left no doubt, running a time of 13.24 to finish second in her heat and secure an automatic qualifying spot. The Hoover, Ala., native will run for an NCAA Championships spot Saturday at 1:50 p.m. ET.
Titi is looking to make his third-straight NCAA Outdoor Championships appearance, and his Road to Eugene started on the right foot as he won the opening heat of the 200m. The senior was in complete command throughout the race, allowing him to cruise through to the finish with a time of 20.41. He’s back in action Saturday at 2:05 p.m. ET with a trip to nationals on the line.
FROM THE COACH
“Aliyah was close to her personal best, and it was great. She’s been sitting for the last two weeks, missed the conference meet, and had to get in a lot of heavy training last week. I was afraid she didn’t get enough rest, but she worked through. She made it to Eugene, Oregon, after working through it. She’ll rest a little bit, and I think she can go a little faster.”
“Titi did a good job managing that race. He was in a tight lane three. I’m glad that tomorrow he runs in the middle of the track, which is a little bit better. He managed it, which was his maturity. He didn’t run extremely hard early; he only ran probably 70 meters in that race where he was putting an intense run in, so we look for a good run out of Titi tomorrow and him punching his ticket in.”
“Caitlyn keeps fighting. She’s a fighter. She’s advanced, and right now I think she has (around the 16th-best time). You’ve got to be in the top-12, and I wouldn’t bet against her, because she’s motivated, and she’s a champion runner. She runs big in big meets.”- Head Coach Curtis Frye
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
The NCAA East Regional concludes Saturday, with action beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET. Little and Titi will attempt to qualify on the track, while Hanifah Abdulqadir, Josh Awotunde and Eric Favors will compete in the field. Carolina will also take part in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays on the women’s side, with the top-12 finishers in each event getting through to the national championship.
| FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2018 • 2018 NCAA EAST REGIONAL • MEN’S RESULTS | ||
| 400mH Quarterfinals (Top 12 Advance to Nationals) | ||
| 24. Rivaldo Leacock | 52.29 | |
| 200m First Round (Top 24 Advance to Quarterfinals) | ||
| 14. Ncincilili Titi | 20.41Q (+3.1) | |
| FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2018 • 2018 NCAA EAST REGIONAL • WOMEN’S RESULTS | ||
| Pole Vault (Top 12 Advance to Nationals) | ||
| –. Hailey Sweatman | NH | |
| 100mH First Round (Top 24 Advance to Quarterfinals) | ||
| 16. Caitlyn Little | 13.24Q (+0.7) | |
| 26. Milan Parks | 13.37 (+2.1) | |
| 400m Quarterfinals (Top 12 Advance to Nationals) | ||
| 10. Aliyah Abrams | 52.04q | |
