Trio of Former Gamecocks Qualify for World Championships at USA Nationals
credit: Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports
EUGENE, Ore. (July 10, 2023) – The 2023 USA Track & Field Outdoor National Championship has come and gone, and three former Gamecocks have emerged from Eugene, Ore. as World Championship qualifiers.
Josh Awotunde, Quincy Hall and Makenzie Dunmore each finished within qualifying standards for the upcoming World Championships that will be held August 19-27 in Budapest, Hungary. South Carolina had a total of 10 current and former Gamecocks competing this past weekend in Oregon alongside the trio of qualifiers, including current student-athletes Jayla Jamison, Jackson Dawson, Ella Zeigler and newcomer Karimah Davis.
Awotunde capped off the event for the Gamecocks on Sunday night, competing in the shot put. The former Gamecock advanced to the finals after throwing 21.32m (69-11.5), positioning himself into sixth with three throws remaining. On his fourth throw, Awotunde hit another gear when he threw a season-best 22.10m (72-6.25) to vault into second behind shot put world leader Ryan Crouser. Awotunde held strong onto that second spot, finishing runner-up for the event and locking his place in Budapest.
Hall opened the USATF Outdoor Championship by winning the fourth heat of the 400m, running 45.21 to advance to the semifinals. Friday night, Hall bested everyone in heat number two when he clocked 44.86 to secure his spot in the 400m finals on Saturday night. The former Gamecock then ran a personal best 44.41 as he crossed the finish line with bronze medalist honors in the finals, earning a trip to Hungary later in August.
Dunmore was the final Gamecock to punch her ticket to the World Championship, also doing so in the 400m. Dunmore opened her competition running 51.07 to finish runner-up in heat number two. Dunmore then clocked 51.51 in the semifinals, advancing to the finals in the eighth position. Needing to finish top six to qualify for the 400m relay pool, Dunmore did exactly that when she posted a time of 50.96 to secure sixth overall.
Three more former Gamecocks competed this past weekend in Oregon as Chris Royster, Wadeline Jonathas and recent graduate Evan Miller showcased their talents. Royster finished 13th overall in the 100m, running 10.25 (1.0) in the semifinals. Jonathas also advanced to the semifinals of the 400m where she placed 13th overall when she stopped the clock at 52.64. Miller competed in both the 400m and the 200m, finishing 11th in the 400m with a time of 46.11 and 18th in the 200m when he ran 20.86 (2.0).
Jayla Jamison and Kentucky transfer Karimah Davis represented the current Gamecocks on the senior circuit, both in the 200m. Davis turned in a time of 23.06 (0.2) to finish 18th overall following the first round, while Jamison finished 22nd overall with a time of 23.17 (1.1).
Rising sophomores Jackson Dawson and Ella Zeigler competed in the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships. Dawson competed in the 1500m and finished 17th overall after running 3:57.46, while Zeigler posted a new career personal best in the 5K when she ran 18:01.67 to finish eighth overall.
