COLUMBIA, S.C. --- Widchard Guervil ran the fastest time in the 100 meters in Division II this season and set school records in both the 100 and 200 meters as Tusculum University competed at the Gamecock Invitational, hosted by the University of South Carolina.
Nicole McMillen, I'Keriah Day and Earthaiza Watkins also set records for the Pioneer women during the meet, which was Tusculum's final tuneup before the South Atlantic Conference Championships at Hickory, North Carolina next weekend.
MEN
Guervil was entered in the fast heat of the men's 100 meters and ran nearly even with competitors from Ohio State and South Carolina State. Guervil, who finished fifth overall, was the top non-Division I finisher in the event with a time of 10.31 seconds, which is now the fastest time in Division II this season. His previous non-wind aided best time in the event was 10.45 seconds at last year's NCAA Division II Championship meet.
Guervil also ran in the 200 meters and placed ninth with a time of 20.86 seconds, third-fastest in Division II this season and faster than his previous record of 20.97 seconds established last year at the Tennessee Challenge. Guervil was just shy of the NCAA automatic qualifying times of 10.26 seconds in the 100 meters and 20.75 seconds in the 200 meters.
Guillaume Devries finished second in the high jump and moved into the top 10 on the NCAA Division II performance list, clearing 2.08 meters (6 feet, 9 3/4 inches). Devries entered the competition at 6 feet, 6 inches which he cleared on his third attempt, then cleared 6-8 on his second try to move on to 6-9 3/4 along with Cody Stine of Ohio State and Ronald Henderson Jr. of Campbell. Stine cleared on his first attempt and Devries made it the third time, but Henderson failed and finished third. Stine went on to win the competition with a height of 2.13 meters (6 feet, 11 3/4 inches).
Evan Grooms also set a school record for the Pioneers, throwing the hammer 37.54 meters (123 feet, 2 inches) and placing 18th overall. Luis Morris broke his own record in the pole vault with a height of 4.20 meters (13 feet, 9 1/4 inches).
Also setting a school record was Will Cronin in the 1500 meters, turning in a time of 4:11.61 that broke the old Pioneer mark by 6/10 of a second. Kyler Hodges had Tusculum's best time of the season in the 800 meters as he crossed the line in 2:00.46.
In other field events, Nicholas Sisto was 10th in the javelin with a throw of 42.05 meters (137 feet, 11 inches) and Christian Sisto was 14th in the shot put (12.91 meters or 42 feet, 4 1/4 inches). Zach Lane was 15th in the shot put at 12.53 meters (41 feet, 1 1/2 inches) and Michael Peppin finished 14th in the discus at 40.55 meters (133 feet).
WOMEN
McMillen's ninth-place time of 4:38.21 in the 1500 meters is the fastest in the South Atlantic Conference this season and broke the old school record of 4:52.25 set last season. Day ran 25.12 seconds in the 200 meters to break Watkins' record of 25.57 seconds set a week earlier at Lenoir-Rhyne, while Watkins posted a 57.44 in the 400 meters to surpass her own record of 57.55 set at Wofford on March 30.
In the 800 meters, Yoland Boyce ran a team season best and finished 16th in 2:21.39, and Destini Wilson had the Pioneers' best mark of the season in the long jump at 5.01 meters (16 feet, 5 1/4 inches). In the shot put, Dynah Dunn took 10th place with a season-best throw of 11.01 meters (36 feet, 1 1/2 inches), and Alyssa Farmer was 13th in the discus at 36.21 meters (118 feet, 9 inches).
Gamecock Invitational - at Columbia, S.C.
Tusculum results
MEN
100: 5. Widchard Guervil, 10.31; 37. Gibran Williams, 10.97; 38. Kedar Ashford, 10.98; 44. Xavier Billups, 11.03; 71. Zaveon McCluney, 11.62
110 hurdles: 26. Luis Morris, 18.00
200: 9. Widchard Guervil, 20.86
400: 47. Malek Folston, 52.56; 51. Jaydon Johnson, 52.89; 61. Jonathan Julien, 57.74; 64. Althiery Leontes, 1:02.85
800: 34. Kyler Hodges, 2:00.46; 42. Kyle Stanley, 2:02.86; 57. Isaac Hybarger, 2:13.21
1500: 20. Will Cronin, 4:11.61; 41. Carson Walls, 4:29.35; 43. Alejandro Perez, 4:30.46
High jump: 2. Guillaume Devries, 2.08m (6-9 3/4)
Pole vault: 12. Luis Morris, 4.20m (13-9 1/4)
Long jump: 25. Nick Jackson, 6.02m (19-9)
Shot put: 14. Christian Sisto, 12.91m (42-4 1/4); 15. Zach Lane, 12.53m (41-1 1/2); 19. Michael Peppin, 12.07m (39-7 1/4)
Discus: 14. Michael Peppin, 40.55m (133-0)
Hammer: 18. Evan Grooms, 37.54m (123-2); 22. Joseph Schwarz, 31.88m (104-7)
Javelin: 10. Nicholas Sisto, 42.05m (137-11)
WOMEN
200: 39. I'Keriah Day, 25.12
400: 22. Earthaiza Watkins, 57.44; 36. Kesia Griffith, 58.87; 37. I'Keriah Day, 59.43; 47. Ke'Lah McMiller, 1:01.17; 59. Brittany Bowery, 1:08.32
800: 16. Yoland Boyce, 2:21.39; 33. Karla Angulo, 2:30.28
1500: 8. Nicole McMillen, 4:38.21; 36. Alissa Furches, 5:13.26; 50. Brooklyn Smith, 5:41.23
Long jump: 33. Destini Wilson, 5.01m (16-5 1/4)
Shot put: 10. Dynah Dunn, 11.01m (36-1 1/2)
Discus: 13. Alyssa Farmer, 36.21m (118-9)
Hammer throw: 24. Dynah Dunn, 28.90m (94-10)