JACKSONVILLE, FL – South Carolina State senior Demek Kemp finished second in the third and final heat of the 100 meters Friday at UNF's Hodges Stadium with a clocking of 10.14 to earn an automatic spot in the semifinals of the event at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship set for June 5-8 at the University of Texas' Mike A. Meyers Stadium in Austin, TX.

Kemp is making his first appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Nationals, guaranteeing SC State a performer at the event for a second straight season after a 14-year drought. SC State's Tyrell Richard participated in the 400 meters as a junior last season and was a favorite to make second consecutive appearance in the event by was a medical scratch on Thursday.

Kemp, a Monroe, GA native, who earned a bronze medal in the 60 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championship two years ago and won the 60 meters at the USAT&F Championship earlier this season, is one of three MEAC performers among the 12 competitors in the 100 meters going to Austin. Coppin's Joseph Amoah, who had the fastest time (10.10) in the event for a second straight day, and North Carolina A&T's Rodney Rowe, sixth-fastest on the day, will join Kemp at the Nationals.

SC State head track coach Tim Langford praised Kemp's Friday performance.

"I'm very proud of Demek advancing to the final round of the Nationals," Langford said. "It's a positive accomplishment for our program in trying to build a legacy of national success. He's continued his program from early in the season and made the necessary improvements to be a threat at the NCAA Finals."

In action for the Bulldogs on Saturday will be the 4x100-meter relay team of Kemp, Daniel Seawright, Malik Watson, Waddell Rembert-Jett and alternate Kameron Hammond. The competition is set for 6:15 p.m.