Not only is the USC women's team deep, but its accomplished as well, as five members of the Eugene-bound group bring previous NCAA Championship experience into this year's meet. Three members of last year's second place 4x400m relay team return in sophomore Kendall Ellis, junior Amalie Iuel and senior Jaide Stepter (below). Returning from last year's 4x100m relay team, which took third and posted the fifth-fastest time in program history, is anchor Deanna Hill and multi-event competitor Alexis Faulknor (long jump). Iuel and Stepter are looking to better their finishes in the 400m IH in addition to their relays after the pair finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in 2015. Tera Novy, who placed fourth in last year's discus finals, returns as well, one of six Trojans competing in field events throughout the week.
Freshman long jumper Margaux Jones will make her inaugural NCAA Championships appearance, alongside juniors Destinee Brown (4x100) and Cameron Pettigrew (4x400) and redshirt senior Tynia Gaither (100m, 200m, 4x100m).
The Trojan men are looking to make their mark in the field, with All-Americans Adoree' Jackson (long jump), Randall Cunningham (high jump) and Nick Ponzio (shot put) competing at the championships once again. In 2015, Jackson placed fifth, Cunningham eighth and Ponzio eighth in their respective events and the trio is eager to raise the bar in their second NCAA trip this week. Also returning to championship-week in Eugene is sophomore 400m sprinter Ricky Morgan, who placed 21st last season.
Jackson will be the first Trojan in action, beginning the 2016 long jump finals at 6 p.m. PT on Wednesday. For the second year, the men and women will compete on alternate days. The entire meet will be televised on one of the ESPN network platforms beginning with coverage on June 8 from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT on ESPN2. On June 9, the meet will be shown on ESPNU from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. PT and then on ESPN from 5:30 to 8 p.m. PT. The broadcast will continue on June 10 from 5:30 p.m. PT to 8 p.m. PT on ESPN, and finishes on June 11 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. PT on ESPN.
Be sure to follow @USC_Track_Field for meet updates, photos and more!
