COLUMBIA — South Carolina hurdler Johnny Dutch will give up his senior season to turn pro.

The reigning NCAA champion in the 400-meter hurdles said on Tuesday he would remain at school to train with head track and field coach Curtis Frye and finish his bachelor’s degree in media arts.

Dutch was an eight-time All-American at South Carolina.

He won the Southeastern Conference title in the 400-meter hurdles this spring and ran the second-fastest time in the world this season at 47.63 seconds in the USA Outdoor Championships in June.