Quartet of Gamecock Women Advance to Saturday’s Quarterfinals

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 25, 2023) – The South Carolina Women’s Track & Field team was in action today at the NCAA East Regional, beginning its competition at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Gamecocks competed in six events on the day, including advancing to the quarterfinals in all four track events that they competed in.

“It’s going to be a good day anytime you advance to the next round in every event you run in as a team,” commented Head Coach Curtis Frye. “I couldn’t be prouder to see such a young group of student-athletes respond the way they did today. We challenged them to just believe in themselves and the work that they put in and the rest will come. Elena, Silan and Sylvia are making their NCAA Regional debuts and they did so by moving on to Saturday. Jayla is only a sophomore, but she runs like a veteran and a leader. I am excited to see what they can do on Saturday, and I look forward to seeing their belief and hard work carry over to the guys tomorrow.”

Silan Ayyildiz put the Gamecocks on the right track today, finishing third overall in the opening round of the 1500m. The Turkey native, and defending SEC Champion, ran in a time of 4:17.97 to earn a spot in the quarterfinals on Saturday at 5:15 p.m. Fellow newcomer, Sylvia Chelangat, was next on the track in the women’s 800m. The Kenya product also inserted herself into the mix on Saturday, running 2:05.22 to earn a qualifying time into Saturday’s quarterfinal at 7:05 p.m.

Elena Kelety placed herself into the quarterfinals on Saturday in the women’s 400-meter hurdles after stopping the clock at 58.59. Kelety secured the final qualifying spot and will now run on Saturday at 7:25 p.m. Jayla Jamison rounded out the track events with a blistering new wind-aided personal best in the 200m. The Columbia native came out of heat number six and ran 22.71 (2.9) to finish third in the heat and ninth overall in the opening round. Jamison will be back in action in the 200m on Saturday at 7:50 p.m.

The Gamecock men will be back in action tomorrow, beginning with Dylan Targgart in the discus throw at 1 p.m. Kobe Franklin will compete in the high jump at 2:30 p.m., while the first track event will be the 4x100m relay at 5 p.m.

Women’s Individual Results
200 Meters (First Round)
9. Jayla Jamison – 22.71Q* (2.9)

800 Meters (First Round)
9. Sylvia Chelangat – 2:05.22q

1,500 Meters (First Round)
3. Silan Ayyildiz – 4:17.97Q

400-Meter Hurdles (First Round)
24. Elena Kelety – 58.59q

Hammer
45. KD Young – 54.82m/179-10

Shot Put
33. KD Young – 15.32m/50-3.25

* – denotes outdoor PR