Gamecocks Complete Day One of the USATF Outdoor Championships
DES MOINES, Iowa — Three members of the Univeristy of South Carolina track and field program advanced out of Thursday’s opening day of the 2019 USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships. Wadeline Jonathas, Stephanie Davis, Chris Royster and Johnny Dutch each reached Friday’s semifinals, with Jonathas highlighting the performances by winning her heat in the 400m.
Showing no rust at all since winning the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championship, Jonathas used a powerful homestretch to win the fourth and final heat of the first round of the 400m. Jonathas finished fourth overall with her time of 51.16. She will be back at Drake Stadium tomorrow in attempt to make Saturday’s final.
Competing in the same heat as Jonathas, teammate Stephanie Davis clocked a 52.68 to take third, but was later disqualified for stepping on the line during the event.
Three-time All-American Chris Royster crossed the finish line with a 10.35 (-0.3) in the first round of the 100m, good enough for the 11th fastest time overall. Royster, who last ran for the Gamecocks in 2014, has the fifth-fastest time in program history in the 100m at 10.17 (wind aided).
NCAA champion Quincy Hall was scratched from his 400mH first round race with a small hamstring injury. Hall, who last raced at the 2019 NACAC Championships, will now focus on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and his senior season at South Carolina.
Johnny Dutch was the first Gamecock to reach the semifinals on Thursday. Dutch, the 2010 NCAA 400m hurdles champion, was the first non-automatic qualifier to reach the semifinals after crossing the finish line with a time of 50.08. Finishing eighth overall in the first round, Dutch will go back to work in the 400m hurdle semifinal tomorrow night. Dutch is no stranger to success at the national level; back in 2014, Dutch won the 400m hurdles at USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, California.
Miki Barber, the first Gamecock track and field alumna to have her jersey retired by South Carolina, began the day by competing in the 100m. The 38-year-old clocked a time of 11.73 (-1.9), a season best, to finish in 22nd.
FROM THE COACH
“It was a good day for the Gamecocks,” head coach Curtis Frye said after the meet. “Wadeline made it out of her first U.S. round. That is an amazing step for her. I was proud of all of our athletes; they competed great without perfect conditions today. I can’t wait to see what they do tomorrow.”
“It was sad to see Quincy not be able to run today. He had a small hamstring injury and we did not want him to get hurt further. We let him make the decision, and now he’ll be able to get healthy for the Olympics in 2020.”
“It is always great to hear Gamecocks get recognition at these high-profile events and today was no different. We had some great alumni performances today. Johnny Dutch and Christopher Royster both advanced to the semifinals in the 400-meter hurdles and the 100. We’re proud of them and excited for tomorrow which includes Awotunde in the Shot Put.”
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
The USATF Outdoor Championships continue throughout the weekend, with day two including the semifinals for the 100m, 400mH and the 400m for the Gamecocks. Josh Awotunde will look to make the world team with the Shot Put finals set to begin on Friday. Carolina will also have competitors at the French and Irish Nationals beginning on Saturday.
| THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2019 • 2019 USATF OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PRELIMARY ROUND • WOMEN’S RESULTS | ||
| 100m Top 3 + next 4 fastest to 2 semis | ||
| 22. Miki Barber | 11.73 (-1.9) | |
| 400m Top 3 each heat + next 4 fastest to 2 semis | ||
| DQ. Stephanie Davis | — | |
| 4. Wadeline Jonathas | 51.16 | |
| THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2019 • 2019 USATF OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS PRELIMINARY ROUND • MEN’S RESULTS | ||
| 400mH Top 3 each heat +next 4 fastest to 2 semis | ||
| 8. Johnny Dutch | 50.08q | |
| 100m Top 3 each heat +next 4 fastest to 2 semis | ||
| 10. Chris Royster | 10.35Q (-0.3) | |
