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Gamecocks Headed to the Big Apple for Dr. Sander Columbia Challenge
Track and Field  . 

Gamecocks Headed to the Big Apple for Dr. Sander Columbia Challenge


COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina track and field team is headed to New York City for the 2020 Dr. Sander Columbia Challenge at the New Balance Track & Field Center at the Armory from Jan. 24-25. The meet begins Friday at 12:30 p.m. ET and continues Saturday, with events starting at 10 a.m. ET.

QUOTABLES

“Every time we can get our student-athletes exposed and to see new things, especially a place like New York, it really gives us an opportunity to give our team part of that college experience that we think is so important. This trip allows our team to experience almost anything we are going to see the rest of the year in regards to big meets and being on the road. We will have the opportunity to tweak and adjust and will aim to finish as one of the top three teams and earn some hardware to bring back to Columbia.”– Head Coach Curtis Frye

 

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP (click to expand)

dr_sander_women_s_starting_lineupdr_sander_men_s_starting_lineup_graphic

LAST TIME OUT – GAMECOCK OPENER

The University of South Carolina track and field team claimed six victories at the squad’s first action at home. 

Hailey Sweatman (Pole Vault) and Destinee Rocker (60m hurdles) were the two victors on the women’s side while Arinze Chance (300m) and Stephon Torrence (60m hurdles) added two victories on the men’s side for Carolina. Malik Paul (Weight Throw) and the Gamecocks Distance Medley Relay team consisting of Maryah Nasir, Macie Kavanaugh, Isabella Pisani and Anna Kathryn Stoddard added a pair of victories for the Gamecocks on Saturday. 

For Sweatman, the victory is her third in as many meets during the young 2019-20 campaign. She reached at least 4.05m (13-3 1/2) for the third time this season. Sweatman’s best mark of the season (4.10m) still has her in the top 10 in the country.  
 
In his first race back with the Gamecocks, senior Arinze Chance demolished the field in the 300m, nearly winning the event by a full second with a time of 33.08, just 0.08 off of his personal record.
 
After two preliminary rounds for the hurdles, Stephon Torrence and Destinee Rocker both found themselves in a highly competitive final in the 60m hurdles. For Rocker, her 8.30 was good enough for second place overall, but the top collegiate time. Torrence took down his personal record he recorded at the junior college championships last season by 0.01 to take second place overall and the top collegiate time at 7.86.
 
Paul tossed a pair of personal record marks during the weight throw with his 19.27m (63-2 ¾) enough to claim the win. For the Distance Medley Relay, it was their first chance at putting up a mark this season. The team of Nasir, Kananaugh, Pisani and Stoddard nearly reached a top-10 program mark and their time of 11:49.88 now sits as the No. 12 time in the country.
 

HALL AND ABRAMS TO RETURN TO THE TRACK

National champions Quincy Hall (Outdoor 400m hurdles) and Aliyah Abrams (Indoor 4x400m relay) are scheduled to return to action at the Dr. Sander Columbia Challenge from Jan. 24-25. This will be the first opportunities for fans to see the two All-Americans on the track in the 2019-20 season. Both are slated to compete in the 4x400m relay while Hall may also see action in the 400m open, the event he was the 2019 SEC indoor and outdoor champion. 

JAN. 11 – ORANGE AND PURPLE ELITE

The Gamecocks picked up three total victories at the first meet of the 2020 campaign with three different athletes contributing to three new program top 10 performances.
 
South Carolina’s first victory came via Malik Paul in the men’s weight throw. Paul’s toss of 18.48m (60-7 3/4) was good enough to claim the top spot by nearly two full meters. Evan Miller continued his winning ways in the 200m with his second victory in as many attempts this season. His 21.19, just 0.08 slower than his season opening time back in December, was good enough for another Gamecock victory. 

Back in the field events, senior pole vaulter Hailey Sweatman captured her second victory of the season with a 4.05m (13-3 1/2) vault. The senior waited patiently and didn’t enter the competition until the height reached 4.05m (13-3.5), a mark good enough for the victory. 
 

DECEMBER 7 – CLEMSON OPENER

South Carolina has already competed once in the 2019-20 season, taking its sprinters, hurdles and pole vaulters to the Clemson Opener on Dec. 7. The Gamecocks dominated, winning six of the 11 events they entered.
 
On the women’s side the Gamecocks picked up three victories with Stephanie Davis’ 37.10 in the 300m highlighting them. Her time was good enough for the third fastest in program history and is now the 14th fastest time in collegiate history. Other victories included the mile relay consisting of Davis, Pearl Nagbe, Shaianne Sipsey and De’Andreah Young. Hailey Sweatman also started her season with a strong performance in pole vault with a winning mark of 4.10m.
 
The men picked up the remaining three victories, with freshman EJ Richardson claiming the victory in the 400m while Evan Miller’s 21.16 was good enough for the top spot in the 200m. The men’s 4x400m relay team of Richardson, William Spencer Jr., Jordan Sessom and Rivaldo Leacock claimed the final victory of the meet with a strong time of 3:10.05.

 

QUINCY HALL APPEARS ON THE BOWERMAN WATCH LIST

University of South Carolina senior Quincy Hall was named to The Bowerman watch list to begin the 2020 season, the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced Monday afternoon.
 
Hall makes his second straight Men’s watch list appearance following an NCAA Outdoor Championship in the 400m hurdles in 2019. Hall also won the NACAC U23 Championship with Team USA in the 400m hurdles after the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
 
The Kansas City, Mo., native swept the 400m in the SEC Indoor and Outdoor Championships during the 2019 season, his first with the Gamecocks. The then-junior was also a part of the men’s 4x400m relay team that earned First Team All-America honors during the indoor and outdoor seasons.
 
Hall owns two school records, both in the 400m, with a time of 45.25 on the indoor track and a time of 44.53 on the outdoor track. His 48.48 that won him the 2019 NCAA Championship in the 400m hurdles is also good enough for the second-best time in program history behind Gamecock great Johnny Dutch (47.63).

UP NEXT

The Gamecocks will return home on Jan. 31-Feb. 1 for the 2020 Carolina Challenge. For more information and links regarding this meet, visit the schedule page or click here. 

JAN. 24-25, 2020 • DR. SANDER COLUMBIA CHALLENGE • MEN’S RESULTS
60m
Evan Miller Friday at 1:45 p.m.
Darrell Singleton Jr. Friday at 1:45 p.m.
200m
Arinze Chance Saturday at 12:27 p.m.
E.J. Richardson Saturday at 12:27 p.m.
400m
Rivaldo Leacock Saturday at 12:09 p.m.
Elisha Brooks Saturday at 12:09 p.m.
Arinze Chance Saturday at 12:09 p.m.
Quincy Hall Saturday at 12:09 p.m.
Alphonzo Overstreet Saturday at 12:09 p.m.
Jordan Sessom Saturday at 12:09 p.m.
E.J. Richardson Saturday at 12:09 p.m.
William Spencer Jr. Saturday at 12:09 p.m.
Noah Walker Saturday at 12:09 p.m.
800m
Blake Newcomb Saturday at 11:02 a.m.
Mile Run
Sean Petersen Saturday either at
10:48 a.m. or 3:20 p.m.
60m Hurdles
Stephon Torrence  Friday at 2:15 p.m.
Filip Demsar Friday at 2:15 p.m.
4x400m
Chance, Hall, Richardson, Spencer Jr. Saturday at 3:47 p.m.
Leacock, Walker, Sessom, Overstreet Saturday at 3:47 p.m.
Shot Put
Eric Favors Friday at 2:30 p.m.
Weight
Malik Paul Saturday at 2 p.m.
JAN. 24-25, 2020 • DR. SANDER COLUMBIA CHALLENGE • WOMEN’S RESULTS
200m
Stephanie Davis Saturday at 1:58 p.m.
Shaianne Sipsey Saturday at 1:58 p.m.
Destinee Rocker Saturday at 1:58 p.m.
Jazmine Tilmon Saturday at 1:58 p.m.
Caitlyn Little Saturday at 1:58 p.m.
400m
Pearl Nagbe Saturday at 11:08 a.m.
Angel Frank Saturday at 11:08 a.m.
Macie Kavanaugh Saturday at 11:08 a.m.
De’Andreah Young Saturday at 11:08 a.m.
800m
Sierra Biber Saturday at 10:53 a.m.
Mile Run
Maryah Nasir Saturday at 3:08 p.m.
Hillary Neely Saturday at 3:08 p.m.
3000m
Anna Stoddard Saturday at 10 or 10:24 a.m.
Kelsey Larkin Saturday at 10 or 10:24 a.m.
Hanna Twine Saturday at 10 or 10:24 a.m.
60m Hurdles
Caitlyn Little Friday at 2 p.m.
Destinee Rocker Friday at 2 p.m.
Jazmine Tilmon Friday at 2 p.m.
4x400m
Davis, Nagbe, Young, Abrams (Frank, Sipsey) Saturday at 3:32 p.m. 
DMR
Nasir, Kavanaugh, Biber, Stoddard Friday at 2:30 p.m.
Pole Vault
Hailey Sweatman Friday at 1:15 p.m.
Adele Blalock Friday at 1:15 p.m.
Kelsey Worthington Friday at 1:15 p.m.
High Jump
Jordan Fields Saturday at 2:15 p.m.
Lissa Labiche Saturday at 2:15 p.m.
Triple Jump
Hanifah Abdulqadir Saturday at 1:45 p.m.
Shot Put
Alycia Springs Friday at 12:30 p.m.
Carisma Holland Friday at 12:30 p.m.
Weight
Amanda Murphy Saturday at 10 a.m.