Gamecocks Secure 12 Wins on Final Day in Myrtle Beach
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (March 16, 2024) – South Carolina Track & Field put together a dominating final day of the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational, winning 12 combined events. The Gamecocks finished runner-up in both the men and the women’s standing following Saturday’s conclusion.
The men’s squad competed in seven events on Saturday, claiming the victory in six of the seven. The Gamecocks won a pair of short sprint events, beginning with Andrew Bond’s victory in the 100m dash after running a wind-aided personal best time of 10.42 (2.8). Carolina went one and two in the event with Prescott Jefferson also clocking a wind-aided personal best, turning in a time of 10.56 (2.8). Nyck Harbor claimed the podium in the men’s 200m after running the fastest time in the East Region and the second fastest time in the NCAA, turning in a wind-aided 20.86 (2.8) performance.
Three more individuals secured gold medal finishes on Saturday as David Warmington captured the title in the men’s 110-meter hurdle with a time of 14.12 (-1.9). Nate Figgers made his outdoor collegiate debut in the men’s high jump and was able to jump into the Gamecocks All-Time Top-10 as he cleared 2.14m (7-0.25) for the win and the ninth highest jump in program history. Veteran pole vaulter Dillon McCarthy was responsible for the final individual win for the men after he was the only person in the field to clear 5.01m (16-5.25).
The men’s team polished off its runner-up finish by winning the coveted 4x400m relay as the quartet of Jayson Ward, Anthony Greenhow, Jasauna Dennis and David Warmington clocked 3:15.82 to edge N.C. State’s squad that ran 3:16.65.
The women’s team was also victorious in bringing home six titles on the day, beginning with Hope Dominique who captured the women’s 3,000 meter event to begin the day. The North Carolina native ran 10:20.86 to provide Carolina with 10 early points in the day. Two more individuals won gold medals on the track in the 200m and 400m sprints. Freshman star and 4x400m indoor national champion, Zaya Akins, won the 200m sprint in her first outdoor collegiate meet. Akins clocked a wind-aided time of 23.15 (3.2) for a new meet and facility record. In addition, Akins’ time ranks 10th all time in program history, second in the NCAA this season and first in the East Region. Fellow freshman Cynteria James finished runner-up behind Akins to go one and two in the event. Aalliyah Francis returned to the top of the podium when she ran 54.74 in the 400m for the victory.
The Gamecock women also won two field events, first in the women’s pole vault as freshman Lena Richardson cleared 3.80m (12-5.5) for the win. Fellow freshman Hannah Togami also cleared 3.80m but finished runner-up behind Richardson after having one more foul in the process. The other field event winner belonged to freshman discus thrower Ella Lucas who launched up the leaderboard and into the Gamecock record book with a throw of 53.35m (175-0) in her final throw of the day. Lucas had already secured the top spot when she threw 51.88m on her third throw. The Pennsylvania native reached into the back pocket on her sixth and final throw, launching the fourth longest throw in the East Region this year and the third longest throw in South Carolina history.
South Carolina women polished off the runner-up finish by doing what they do best, winning the 4x400m relay. The relay team of Aalliyah Francis, Judy Kosgei, Cynteria James and Sylvia Chelangat turned in a time of 3:46.29 to win by a total of 15 seconds, capturing the final 10 points for Carolina.
South Carolina will return to action next weekend as the Gamecocks play host to the 2024 Weems Baskin Invitational in what will serve as the team’s outdoor home opener. The event will take place at the Sheila & Morris Cregger Track on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23.
Men’s Team Standings
1. Coastal Carolina – 139.5
2. South Carolina – 109
3. N.C. State – 78.5
Men’s Individual Results
100 Meters (Finals)
1. Andrew Bond – 10.42w (2.8)*
2. Prescott Jefferson – 10.56w (2.8)*
200 Meters
1. Nyck Harbor – 20.86w (2.8)*
7. Prescott Jefferson – 21.55w (2.8)*
16. David Warmington – 22.04w (2.5)*
1 Mile
13. Carlos Lanzagorta-Ruiz – 4:30.23*
4×400-Meter Relay
1. Ward, Greenhow, Dennis, Warmington – 3:15.82
110-Meter Hurdles (Finals)
1. David Warmington – 14.12 (-1.9)
High Jump
1. Nate Figgers – 2.14m/7-0.25*
Pole Vault
1. Dillon McCarthy – 5.01m/16-5.25
2. Conor Reilly – 4.86m/15-11.25
3. Parker Samuelson – 4.86m/15-11.25*
Women’s Team Standings
1. Coastal Carolina – 136
2. South Carolina – 110
3. N.C. State – 85
Women’s Individual Results
100 Meters (Finals)
6. Madison Childress – 12.17 (2.0)*
200 Meters
1. Zaya Akins – 23.15w (3.2)*
2. Cynteria James – 23.60w (3.2)*
5. Madison Childress – 25.08 (3.2)*
400 Meters
1. Aalliyah Francis – 54.74
800 Meters
6. Maria Lombardi – 2:18.90*
20. Ella Zeigler – 2:29.73*
22. Anya Arroyo – 2:30.05*
1 Mile
3. Maria Lombardi – 5:11.68*
5. Anya Arroyo – 5:17.30*
3,000 Meters
1. Hope Dominique – 10:20.86
4. Ella Zeigler – 10:52.23
— Lily Weeks – DNF
4×400-Meter Relay
1. Francis, Kosgei, James, Chelangat – 3:46.29
Pole Vault
1. Lena Richardson – 3.80m/12-5.5*
2. Hannah Togami – 3.80m/12.5-5*
Discus
1. Ella Lucas – 53.35m/175-0*
* – denotes outdoor PR
