Gamecocks Leave Their Mark at Clemson Opener
CLEMSON, S.C. (Dec. 8, 2023) – The Tim Hall Era officially kicked off with a bang on Friday as Gamecock Track & Field took home nine victories at the Clemson Opener in Clemson, S.C. In addition to the nine wins, the Gamecocks found themselves with 12 Top-25 NCAA marks, including four NCAA-leading results.
It was the newcomers that stole the spotlight at Clemson, led by freshman sprinter JaMeesia Ford who ran the second fastest 300-meter time in NCAA history at 35.83. Ford finished just .03 seconds behind Kentucky great Abby Steiner who clocked 35.80 in 2021. In addition to placing second in USTFCCCA history, the Fayetteville, N.C. native broke the program record for the 300m and is currently the world leader in the indoor 300m sprint. Teammate Zaya Akins was not far behind Ford, finishing second on the podium with a time of 36.77 for the second fastest mark in Gamecock history.
Freshman sprinter Cynteria James left her mark in the 60-meter dash after winning both the semifinals and the finals. James clocked 7.46 in the preliminary round before running a time of 7.35 in the semifinals to take over the fastest time in the NCAA. The Florida native outdid herself in the finals when she ran 7.31 for the fastest time in the 2023-24 world rankings as well as the NCAA, not to mention the eighth best time in program history. Anastasia Sumpter finished third in the finals with a time of 7.50 but was able to run 7.47 in the semifinals to sit eighth in the NCAA standings.
Hannah Togami, a freshman pole vaulter from Mount Pleasant, S.C., secured a win in her first collegiate meet when she cleared 3.95m (12-11.5) to rank 12th in the NCAA and eighth all-time in Gamecock indoor pole vault history.
Capping off the women’s top performances were a handful of veterans, led by Jayla Jamison who finished second in the 200m with a time of 23.46 to take over the NCAA leaderboard. Jamison finished behind a fellow teammate who was running unattached. Jamison was also the third leg in the women’s 4x400m relay team that captured the podium as Ford, Aalliyah Francis, Jamison and Akins clocked 3:36.46 for the win and the fastest time in the NCAA this season.
There were five victories on the men’s side, including three more by a trio of newcomers. The first win of the season for Carolina belonged to Lehigh transfer Conor Reilly. In his first meet with the Gamecocks, the junior pole vaulter cleared a personal best 4.85m (15-11) to capture the first win of the season for the Garnet & Black. Shortly after Reilly’s win, Channing Ferguson (USC Upstate transfer) and true freshman Nate Figgers tied for the top spot in the high jump at 2.10m (6-10.75) with the 10th best heights in the NCAA thus far.
Veteran thrower Dylan Targgart did not skip a beat as he claimed yet another victory in the indoor shot put. The Michigan native threw 18.91m (62-5) for the third longest throw in the NCAA. Targgart bested the second-place thrower by nearly three meters.
Andrew Bond, Anthony Greenhow and Prescott Jefferson highlighted the sprinters on Friday with Greenhow securing a win in the 60m with a personal best time of 6.70, fending off Bond who tied his personal best of 6.78 to finish third. Greenhow’s time ranks fourth in the NCAA and eighth all time in South Carolina history. Greenhow also ran in the 300m, clocking 32.65 to finish second overall with the second-best time in program history since 2010. Jefferson rounded out the sprinting action as he and Bond both set personal bests in the indoor 200m with Jefferson leading the way at 21.82 to finish seventh overall and Bond finishing 10th with a time of 21.90. Jefferson’s time is good enough to sit 15th in the NCAA heading into the weekend.
The final win for the men on Friday came from TCU transfer Theo Mudzengerere in the triple jump. In his first meet with the Gamecocks, the Zimbabwe native jumped a program record distance of 16.00m (52-6) for the top mark in the NCAA.
South Carolina will be back in action in the new year as the Gamecocks play host to the Gamecock Opener on Jan. 13, 2024. The full South Carolina Track & Field schedule can be found here.
Men’s Individual Results
60 Meters (Prelims)
3. Anthony Greenhow – 6.78Q
4. Andrew Bond – 6.80q
9. Prescott Jefferson – 6.89
60 Meters (Finals)
1. Anthony Greenhow – 6.70*
3. Andrew Bond – 6.78*
200 Meters
7. Prescott Jefferson – 21.82*
10. Andrew Bond – 21.90*
300 Meters
2. Anthony Greenhow – 32.65*
600 Meters
11. Ethan Mathis – 1:23.37*
1000 Meters
9. Sean Sanders – 2:30.60*
18. Hugh Willcox – 2:36.82*
— Ethan Mathis – DNF
4×400-Meter Relay
9. Jefferson, Greenhow, Bond, Mathis – 3:24.15
High Jump
1. Channing Ferguson – 2.10m/6-10.75
2. Nate Figgers – 2.10m/6-10.75*
Triple Jump
1. Theo Mudzengerere – 16.00m/52-6*
2. Spencer Eison – 13.72m/45-0.25*
Pole Vault
1. Conor Reilly – 4.85m/15-11*
2. Parker Samuelson – 4.55m/14-11
Shot Put
1. Dylan Targgart – 18.91m/62-5
Women’s Individual Results
60 Meters (Prelims)
2. Cynteria James – 7.46Q
6. Anastasia Sumpter – 7.61Q
60 Meters (Semis)
1. Cynteria James – 7.35Q
3. Anastasia Sumpter – 7.47q
60 Meters (Finals)
1. Cynteria James – 7.31*
3. Anastasia Sumpter – 7.50
200 Meters
2. Jayla Jamison – 23.46
6. Anastasia Sumpter – 24.66*
11. Hailey Duncan – 24.82*
300 Meters
1. JaMeesia Ford – 35.83*
2. Zaya Akins – 36.77*
4. Aalliyah Francis – 37.18
5. Jahnile Registre – 37.60*
4×400-Meter Relay
1. Ford, Francis, Jamison, Akins – 3:36.46
— Registre, Duncan, Sumpter – DNF
Pole Vault
1. Hannah Togami – 3.95m/12-11.5*
4. Emma Stone – 3.65m/11-11.75
10. Mia Joseph – 3.35m/10-11.75
* – denotes indoor PR
