Unfinished Business: Randrianasolo is Ready to Fly in Final Season

Few Gamecocks improved as much as long jumper Yann Randrianasolo in 2018. Then a junior, the Toulouse, France, native earned his first SEC medal, qualified for both NCAA Championships and turned in a sterling summer season, which included appearances at the European Championships in Berlin and the Athletics World Cup in London. Still, with one season of collegiate track left, Randrianasolo wants more.

Randrianasolo knows what it takes to get to the NCAA Championships. He’s been there before. After seeing what he could accomplish on the international circuit last summer, he is determined not only to return to the NCAA Championships next spring, but to be standing on the podium as well.

“I want to jump as far as possible,” Randrianasolo said. “Maybe 8.20 meters, 8.30. I missed nationals the first year I got here by just a little. I made it last year, so there is no reason why I cannot do it again this year. I have high expectations. It’s different now, because I know now I can do big things, and people are expecting more from me.

“I’m trying to be in the top three. When you compete, you want to be the best. I don’t want to sound too confident, but being at nationals, well, I just have to be there and do my best to be in the top three.”

Randrianasolo earned second-team All-American honors during the indoor and outdoor season last spring. His confidence was elevated while competing at home for France after he jumped over 8 meters for the first time and qualified for the European Championships and the Athletics World Cup.

“I was really happy that I jumped over eight meters,” Randrianasolo said. “I was thinking, ‘finally!’ I was 75 percent happy, and 25-percent thinking I should have jumped this earlier with (South Carolina assistant) Coach Dee (Delethea Quarles). I knew that I could do it.”

“When I took off I thought, ‘oh, this is good!'”
– Yann  Randrianasolo

While international meets will certainly help prepare athletes for college competition, Randrianasolo noted that being able to compete in the SEC is what prepared him to succeed on the international stage.

“Competing in the SEC and the NCAA (Championships) helped me to be at this level,” Randrianasolo said. “To compete in the SEC requires a serious investment of work every day. All of that brings me to this level of (international) track meets.

“I was nervous to represent my country, but I was not nervous about the competition because I’m used to it. I was ready for this type of battle.”

Randrianasolo added that representing his homeland on the national team was a dream come true.

“I think every single athlete wants to represent their country,” Randrianasolo said. “I’ve been fighting for years to have that jersey, and this was the year to have it. It was a great reward.

“I was very proud the first time I put on the jersey. I was in Spain for the Mediterranean Games. I was nervous, because you’re not only representing yourself, it’s your entire country. You have to be good! In the first meet, I earned a bronze medal, so that was pretty good. I wanted to win so I could hear our national anthem, but it was my first international track meet, so it was neat to see the flag going up. My family was very proud.”

Knowing his potential, Randrianasolo also knows he has a lot of work ahead of him to get to where he ultimately wants to be.

“I have to fix a lot of things,” Randrianasolo said. “I have a lot to improve, such as flexibility. I have to be lighter. I’m kind of heavy. I have some technical stuff to fix. I’m at eight meters now, and I know I can go a lot farther.

“I like working with Coach Dee because she pays attention to everything and to what I say. She’s not afraid to change things, and she knows me really well. We have a special connection. She knows what is good for me.”

Randrianasolo’s mental approach is solid. He always smiles, even when he’s not practicing well, but he knows how to stay focused when it’s time to sprint down the track.

“I don’t hear anything when I’m running,” Randrianasolo said. “I focus on my keys to jump far. At the takeoff of my jump, I know. When I jumped eight meters, during my run, I was cramping in both of my calves, but I didn’t stop the run. I kept going. I said ‘Yann, keep going. Try to be faster.’ When I took off I thought, ‘oh, this is good!'”

Without a doubt, Randrianasolo he is ready to fly in his final season in the Garnet and Black.

“I represent myself and my school,” Randrianasolo said. “If I’m at the top at NCAAs, I would be proud for me and for the school and for Coach Dee, too.”