Track Starts Strong at Gamecock Opener

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina track and field team picked up four collegiate victories on Friday during the first day of the Gamecock Opener, the first home meet of the 2020 season.

“To be at home, for the kids to have this experience with over 1,300 athletes here and for them to go round by round with the patience to get warmed up and execute is just awesome,” South Carolina head coach Curtis Frye said. 

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.
 
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. His 33.08 is the second fastest 300m time in the country this season and is a good enough for a collegiate top 25 all-time time. The 2020 indoor campaign is Chance’s final season of eligibility.
 
After two preliminary rounds for the hurdles, Stephon Torrence and Destinee Rocker both found themselves in a highly competitive final in the 60m hurdles. Both made their home debut after transferring from previous institutions. 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.

“For Rocker to run 7.30 and Caitlyn to run 7.35, it just showed how we are on a big roll right now,” Frye said. “Another win by Sweatman today is great to see her sticking solid to where she’s been this season. We have a lot of things to be hopeful for and we just had a great night. We want to duplicate that tomorrow, but overall this weekend is already a bigger jump than most this early in the season.” 
 
Of the non-victors, Stephanie Davis’ performance shined the brightest. In the fastest heat of the 400m, Davis finished in third with a top-five national time of 53.54. The time was just behind her indoor personal best, but the impressive early season time puts her in position to qualify for the possibility of an individual NCAA-bid with still a large portion of the season remaining.
 
Another great short sprints performance was Darrell Singleton Jr. in the 60m dash. The senior pushed through two preliminary rounds, including a season-best 6.77 in the semifinals, to reach the final. In the final, Singleton Jr. posted a 6.78 to tie him for a top 30 time in the country this season.

Other impressive top-eight performances throughout the first day of the Gamecock Opener includes Hanna Twine, Caitlyn Little and E.J. Richardson.
 
Twine, competing in the 3000m, improved her personal best by 16 seconds to take second overall. Little’s 8.34 in the 60m hurdle final is a season-best time and was good enough for sixth place. Richardson matched Little’s sixth-place finish with his 47.90, just a touch behind his collegiate PR of 47.25 he posted back in December.
 
South Carolina continues the Gamecock Opener on Jan. 18 starting at 10 a.m. when field events kick off the competition. For more information on the Gamecocks, continue to check back with GamecocksOnline.com.

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