Gamecocks Conclude Dr. Sander Invitational with Pair of Top Three Team Performances
NEW YORK, N.Y. (Jan. 28, 2023) – South Carolina Track & Field finished inside the top three in both the men and women’s team standings as the Gamecocks concluded the 2023 Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia College in New York City. The women led South Carolina with a second-place finish at 108 points, while the men finished third with 90 overall points.
“Our group showed that they just want to compete for each other,” stated Head Coach Curtis Frye. “Team scores are important, and this was the right kind of meet for us to compete in. We had strong competition from UCLA and Connecticut, as well as other schools that are here in this region. Our kids flat out competed and the ones that are still developing did a good job of fitting in. They put forth the effort and I am pleased with them. Jayla was a double winner and that is what we expected. She is just a competitor and knows how to win. We had a good effort from KD today in the weight throw. For those field events, we ask for you to do your personal best when the team is counting on you and that is what they did this weekend. Of course, we had a great run with Anass setting the Carolina record in the 3K just one day after Rogerio recorded the first sub-14-minute 5K. Now it is time to get back and make sure we get healthy and give some kids some opportunities to compete at home again this next weekend. This next week is big for us as it will set us up for the Clemson Invite where we will face eight of the Top 10 teams in the country.”
For the second consecutive day in New York, there was a Gamecock record broken. This time it was the men’s 3,000 meter, set last week by Rogerio Amaral (8:02.55), that was broken by his fellow teammate Anass Essayi. The Morocco native made his season debut in style as he ran 7:41.93, breaking Amaral’s week-long record by nearly 21 seconds. Essayi’s time is also the second fastest 3K race in the NCAA this season and ranks fifth all time in the USTFCCCA record book.
Sticking with the men’s results, South Carolina earned a pair of runner-up finishes in both the 200 meter and the 4×400 meter relay. Anthony Greenhow, Jr. ran 21.31 in the 200m to secure eight points for the Gamecocks. To conclude the day, the relay team of Jayson Ward, William Spencer Jr., Jackson Junkins and EJ Richardson secured the 39th best 4x400m relay time at 3:11.54 for eight more points in Carolina’s pocket.
The final top three finish came from William Spencer, Jr. in the 400-meter race, running 47.82 for six points.
South Carolina women turned in three victories on Saturday and one second-place finish. Jahnile Registre earned the first win of the day for the Gamecocks in the 400m after stopping the clock at 54.49. Alysia Johnson finished third in the 400m, finishing second in the heat behind Registre with a time of 54.78. Sophomore sprinter Jayla Jamison won her fourth race of the season, this time claiming the 200m with a mark of 23.47.
The women’s 4x400m relay squad of Jamison, Johnson, Elena Kelety and Registre cruised to the win in the relays after clocking a 3:37.25 time, the 16th fastest time in the NCAA this season. This is the fourth consecutive 4x400m relay victory to start the season.
Veteran thrower KD Young set a new indoor personal best in the weight throw when she launched one 19.25m (63-2) to finish runner up. Her throw is the sixth longest throw in South Carolina history and currently ranks 49th in the NCAA.
South Carolina returns home next weekend to host the South Carolina Invitational in a two-day meet that will begin on Friday, Feb. 3 and conclude on Saturday, Feb. 4. This will be the final two-day home meet for the indoor season.
Men’s Team Standings
1. UCLA – 101 points
2. UConn – 95 points
3. South Carolina – 90 points
Men’s Individual Results
200 Meters
2. Anthony Greenhow – 21.31
400 Meters
3. William Spencer, Jr. – 47.82
4. EJ Richardson – 48.50
7. Jayson Ward – 48.90
9. Jackson Junkins – 49.09
800 Meters
9. Aidan Hatton – 1:53.51
10. Will Wright – 1:53.56
11. Jack Mensch – 1:53.84
1-Mile
11. Jackson Dawson – 4:15.74*
3000 Meters
1. Anass Essayi – 7:41.93*
4×400 Meter Relay
2. Ward, Spencer, Junkins, Richardson – 3:11.54
– Mensch, Wright, Hatton, Dawson – DNF
High Jump
5. Kobe Franklin – 2.05m/6-8.75
– Jackson Marseille – NH
Women’s Team Standings
1. UCLA – 187 points
2. South Carolina – 108 points
3. UConn – 76.5 points
Women’s Individual Results
200 Meters
1. Jayla Jamison – 23.47
29. Anastasia Sumpter – 25.80
400 Meters
1. Jahnile Registre – 54.49
3. Alysia Johnson – 54.78
4. Elena Kelety – 55.40
6. Sylvia Chelangat – 55.75*
800 Meters
8. Kieley Gayle – 2:13.89
13. Grace Zamrowski – 2:16.04
1-Mile
6. Alex Costantino – 4:55.70
15. Emily Pierontoni – 4:59.53*
21. Svenja Sommer – 5:03.24*
4×400 Meter Relay
1. Jamison, Johnson, Kelety, Registre – 3:37.25
Pole Vault
– Emma Stone – NH
Weight Throw
2. KD Young – 19.25m/63-2*
5. Kayla Racine – 18.26m/59-11
* – denotes indoor PR
