Abrams Stars for Gamecocks on Final Day of UNF Invitational

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina track and field team concluded its time in Jacksonville, Fla., at the UNF Invitational with senior Aliyah Abrams highlighting the action for the Garnet and Black on Friday. The Gamecocks picked up one victory after three on Thursday and added a number of quality times and marks both nationally and regionally. 

Abrams’ notable day on the track began with the 400m, dropping the sixth-fastest time in the event in the nation this year to take second in a time of 51.67. Abrams finished just behind Gamecock legend Wadeline Jonathas, who was competing as a professional. Just behind Abrams was fellow Gamecock Stephanie Davis who finished fourth overall in a season-best time of 52.48, which is good enough for 23rd best in the nation this year. 

On top of helping the Gamecocks in the 4x100m relay earlier in the afternoon, Abrams bookended her day with the mile relay, an event in which the Gamecocks won. Abrams, along with Davis, Ashton Lindley and Alysia Johnson clocked a season-best 3:30.84 to win the event, and in turn posted the 11th-fastest time in the nation this year. 

It was a great day for Carolina’s quarter mile crew with Jackson Junkins dropping a new personal record on the men’s side to finish fifth overall. The first-year Gamecock stopped the clock in 46.49, putting him just 0.21 off the Gamecock all-time program top 10 list outdoors. Junkins and the Gamecocks also finished the meet in the 4x400m relay, taking second in a time of 3:08.54. 

Carolina saw a pair of its hurdlers make the final on Friday, with Caitlyn Little and Filip Demsar both reaching the high-quality high hurdle final. Little was able to capture a third-place finish while also clocking a season-best 13.24 which puts her at 34th in the nation this year and 17th in the East Region. Demsar used a 13.99 to reach the final and left the meet with an eighth-place finish, while Gamecock legend Isaiah Moore finished fourth in the talented final. 

Other notable finishes on the day included a personal record for Hayden Cobbe in the men’s 800m, clocking a 1:50.67 to finish 10th overall while the women’s 4x100m relay was fifth with a time of 45.05 and KD Young tossed a 55.50m (182-1) to leave with a seventh-place finish. 

Carolina will have until May 13 to prepare for the SEC Championships in Bryan-College Station, Texas. The Gamecocks’ will compete in the three-day meet from May 13-15 and then will have the NCAA East Regionals later in the month from May 27-29 in Lexington, Ky. 

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