USCB hurdler breaks own school record on way to NAIA final

USC Beaufort’s Brandon Gourdine broke his own school record in the men’s 110 hurdles Friday, turning in the fourth-fastest qualifying time to earn a finals berth at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Gulf Shores, Ala.

Gourdine, a senior, placed second in his heat with a time of 14.47 seconds, just three-hundredths behind heat winner Frederick Boyd of Siena Heights. That smashed the previous USCB mark of 14.71 he set two months ago at the Tiger Twilight meet at Savannah State.

Gourdine’s performance made him the fourth Sand Shark to qualify for a berth in Saturday’s event finals.

Betsy Douglas qualified sixth in the women’s 1,500 meters on Thursday, moving one step closer to a potential NAIA All-American status for the second consecutive year. Douglas crossed the line in 4:34.07, which was nine-hundredths faster than her sixth-place time in last year’s final.

Taylor Superior failed to qualify for the final of the women’s 400 hurdles, finishing fifth in her heat with a time of 1:05.08.

Gourdine, Douglas and steeplechase runners Anthony Vecchio and Nic O’Neill will compete in Saturday’s finals, starting with the 3,000 steeplechase at 2 p.m. No preliminaries were held in the steeplechase, with Vecchio and O’Neill going straight to the final.

MEN’S GOLF

USCB takes 8th at nationals: Brad Curren notched three birdies in his final seven holes to complete a 2-under-par 69, helping the Sand Sharks rise to eighth on the final day of the NAIA Men’s Championship in Silvis, Ill.

The Sand Sharks turned in Friday’s fourth-best team score at the TPC Deere Run, combining to shoot 7-over 291 as nobody turned in anything higher than a 76. USCB moved up five spots in the team standings, finishing 34 shots behind champion Oklahoma City.

USCB’s Kirk Mitchell followed up Thursday’s 71 with a 73, while freshman Riley Schank shot 74 and Jud Milam had a 75. That left freshman Bobby Dunphy’s 76 as the non-counting score.

Curren tied for 21st among individuals, his total of 12-over 296 finishing 15 shots behind winner David Ravetto of Texas Wesleyan.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 4:41 PM with the headline "USCB hurdler breaks own school record on way to NAIA final."