University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
49er Classic
One School Record Falls for Upstate on Day Two of 49er Classic
3/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Charlotte, N.C. – Destinie Sykes broke a school record for the second straight meet and the USC Upstate track and field team compiled 19 personal-best marks during the second day of the 49er Classic held at the Irwin Belk Track & Field Center on the campus of UNC Charlotte.
Sykes wasted little time surpassing her previous school record in the 400-meter hurdles which she set last weekend at the season-opening CCU Invitational. The sophomore from Gastonia, N.C. qualified for tomorrow's final in the 400-meter hurdles after posting a personal-best time of 1:06.28 to finish in eighth place. Sykes broke her old school record by over one minute to grab the final qualifying spot.
Jasmine Polite turned in the top individual performance for Upstate on Friday. The senior posted a time in the 5000-meter run of 17:34.21 to place third and gave her another top-five performance to begin the outdoor season.
Alexis Jacobs added a ninth-place showing in the discus throw following her mark of 37.31-meters.
Blake Hayes had the best finish for the Spartan men after competing in the hammer throw. Hayes recorded a personal-best throw of 42.93-meters to finish in 17th place, surpassing his old personal-best by almost five meters.
Along with Sykes and Hayes, Upstate logged a total of 19 personal-best performances on Friday with the women picking up 10 and the men seven. Sykes also had a personal-best time in the 100-meter hurdles preliminaries of 15.38, and was joined by Semaj Tolliver (100-meter dash), Courtney Bradley (200-meter dash, 400-meter dash), Sierra White (200-meter dash), Molly Bliss (1500-meter run), Ashleigh Torres (1500-meter run), Kelsey Warren (1500-meter run) and Storm-Alexis Gandy (1500-meter run).
Patrick Jamison and Jaleel Williams both had two personal-best times in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. Donnie Hutchinson also contributed a personal-best leap in the long jump of 5.96-meters. Theodore Kountourogiannis and Cody Ellison each tallied personal-best times as they ran in the 5000-meter run.
The Spartans return to Irwin Belk Track & Field Center tomorrow for the final day of the 49er Classic. The day's proceedings begin at 10 a.m. with the last event scheduled for 4:55 p.m.
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