KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

DES MOINES, Iowa – Seven hundredths of a second separated Indiana State sophomore Greggmar Swift from a spot in the finals of the 110 meter hurdles as the Sycamore placed 10th in the semifinals Thursday at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

“I swear I looked across and it seemed like we all finished together,” Swift said. “It was the closest race I have had all season.”

The sophomore ran in the opening heat of the semifinals and finished fourth with a time of 13.60 seconds. Shane Brathwaite, a junior out of Texas Tech and, like Swift, a native of Barbados, won the heat in 13.52. Syracuse senior Jarrett Easton was the other automatic qualifier for the finals out of the opening heat with a time of 13.55 with Miami senior Devon Hill third in 13.58. The top two in each heat automatically advanced with the two fastest non-automatic qualifiers also advancing.

“It was his fastest semifinal race of the season,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & Field coach, said. “It is just amazing how fast everyone is running out here. The competition is tremendous and it is a good experience for our athletes. They will be back to compete again and this experience will help them prepare for this level of competition.”

Swift holds the third fastest 110 meter hurdle time in school history of 13.49 which he ran at the MVC Championships. He was disappointed with the outcome of Friday's race but is still happy to use it as a learning experience.

“This race was so close,” Swift said. “I really cannot complain about the finish. I had a brilliant start and I think we were side-by-side the entire race. I am going to take what I learned from this race and apply it to my next race. It might be just as close as this one.”

Texas A&M junior Wayne Davis won the second heat and has the top semifinal time of 13.26. Florida sophomore Eddie Lovett was the second of the two non-automatic qualifiers who advanced on the basis of time as he finished in 13.53.

Swift will be returning to his native Barbados to compete for a spot on their Olympic track & field team.  He competed for Barbados at the World University Games last summer, placing ninth in the 110 meter hurdles and just missing a spot in the finals with a time of 13.90 in the semifinals. He also competed in the Central American and Caribbean Championships where he placed sixth in 13.84 and was second in the 2011 Barbados National Track & Field Championships with a time of 13.88.

“I will get in a good week of practice before the Olympic trials,” Swift said.

McNichols, who also coaches the hurdle group for the Sycamores, is looking forward to watching Swift compete this summer and having him back for two more years at Indiana State.

“He learns with every race,” McNichols said. “He is a great talent who is very dedicated to becoming the best hurdler ever. He recovered from a hamstring injury during the indoor season and really exploded during the outdoor season. It would have been nice to have him in that final race here but he will be back.”

Indiana State's competition at the NCAA Finals will come to a close on Friday with three throwers competing. Junior Brandon Pounds is first up as he competes in the men's hammer at 3 p.m. (ET) with juniors Felisha Johnson and Mary Theisen going in the women's shot put at 6 p.m. (ET).

Johnson has already competed in one event at the 2012 Finals as she was 22nd in the women's discus on Wednesday. Junior Stacia Weatherford also competed on Wednesday and placed 19th in the women's 400 meter hurdles.