Carolina Dominates in Final Day of Weems Baskin Invitational
COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 23, 2024) – South Carolina Track & Field was on full display on Saturday at the Cregger Track, closing the 2024 Weems Baskin Invitational in style with 12 wins and two program records.
Cynteria James was responsible for one of the wins and one of the program records, doing so in the women’s 100-meter sprint. The young freshman got the attention of everyone inside the facility after clocking a program record and facility record time of 11.01 (1.7). James clocked the fastest time in the NCAA in the final race to lead the charge for the Gamecocks as well as the current top time on the world leaderboard. Teammate Zaya Akins ran 11.26 (1.7) in the finals for the ninth best time in program history and the third fastest time in the East Region.
South Carolina picked up a pair of wins in the 200m and the 400m as well. Aalliyah Francis captured the 200m crown after running 22.92 (2.4) to sit as the top time in the NCAA this season. In addition, Francis’ time stands as the eighth-fastest outdoor 200m in program history. Prior to the 200m, JaMeesia Ford made her outdoor debut for the Gamecocks in the 400m and it was a race to remember. The two-time NCAA indoor champion posted a time of 51.16 for the fastest time in the NCAA this season, a new Cregger Track facility record and the seventh best time in Gamecock history. In addition to her NCAA ranking, Ford’s time now ranks 14th in the current world standings. Ford was followed by Jahnile Registre (54.27) with the 10th fastest time in the region and Sylvia Chelangat (54.87) who clocked the 15th best time in the East Region.
The final win of the day for the Gamecock women came from the 4×400 meter relay squad of JaMeesia Ford, Zaya Akins, Sylvia Chelangat and Aalliyah Francis who turned in a time of 3:34.80 to rank fourth in the East Region. South Carolina also had a pair of runner-up finishes in the women’s field events as Hannah Togami cleared 3.85m (12-7.5) in the pole vault to rank 10th all time in Gamecock history and Prommyse Hoosier jumped 6.06m/19-10.75 (2.2) to rank 10th in the regional standings.
South Carolina men were responsible for eight total wins and one individual program record. Veteran sprinter and First Team All-American from the indoor season, Anthony Greenhow, set a new Gamecock record in the 100m prelims when he clocked 10.01 (4.3) for the fastest time in the NCAA and in the world. Fellow teammate Nyck Harbor ran 10.16 (0.5) for the fifth best time in school history and the third fastest time in the country. Prescott Jefferson joined them in the finals with a new wind-aided personal best time of 10.36 (4.3). In the finals, it was Harbor who took home the win with a time of 10.24 (0.9), followed by Greenhow with a mark of 10.28 (0.9).
The first win of the day for either squad belonged to the men’s 4×100 meter relay. The quartet of Andrew Bond, Anthony Greenhow, Prescott Jefferson, and Nyck Harbor turned in a time of 40.20 for the victory and the eighth fastest time in the regional standings.
The Gamecocks won three more individual events on the track as Jayson Ward settled in for the 400m win by running 47.31 to rank 20th in the region, while teammate Jasauna Dennis was on his heels with a time of 47.45 to finish second. Aidan Hatton took home the 800m victory after running a personal best time of 1:50.31 to rank seventh in the NCAA and second in the region. Teammate, Joshua Kosgei, turned in a time of 1:50.63 in the 800m to finish second overall and posted the 13th best time in the NCAA and sixth fastest time in the East Region. The final individual win on the track for the men came from David Warmington who ran a personal best time of 13.79 (-0.5) to win the 110-meter hurdles with the seventh best run in the region.
South Carolina was also responsible for three field event wins on the men’s side, beginning with Dylan Targgart in the discus. The NCAA Indoor bronze medalist in the shot put tossed a personal best distance in the discus after throwing 56.09m (184-0) to rank eight in the region and 10th in program history. Jumps specialist Channing Ferguson was at it again in the men’s long jump with his second consecutive win in as many weeks following a jump of 7.63m/25-0.5 (2.6). The final field event win came from the men’s pole vault as Dillon McCarthy was in the final event remaining for the weekend. The veteran vaulter cleared 5.06m (16-7.25) on his first attempt for the victory, ranking 12th in the East Region.
South Carolina will have a quick turnaround as the Gamecocks will split the team next weekend to compete in the Raleigh Relays and the Florida Relays. Those competing in the Raleigh Relays will do so on Thursday, March 28; while the Florida Relays will be a two-day meet starting Friday, March 29.
Men’s Individual Results
100 Meters (Prelims)
1. Anthony Greenhow – 10.01wQ (4.3)*
2. Nyck Harbor – 10.16Q (0.5)*
8. Prescott Jefferson – 10.36wq (4.3)*
100 Meters (Finals)
1. Nyck Harbor – 10.24 (0.9)
2. Anthony Greenhow – 10.28 (0.9)*
6. Prescott Jefferson – 10.60 (0.9)*
200 Meters
6. Prescott Jefferson – 21.19 (1.9)*
13. Jayson Ward – 21.68 (2.0)*
400 Meters
1. Jayson Ward – 47.31*
2. Jasauna Dennis – 47.45*
800 Meters
1. Aidan Hatton – 1:50.31*
2. Joshua Kosgei – 1:50.63*
43. Tyler Stargel – 2:14.76*
— Ethan Mathis – DNF
4×100 Meter Relay
1. Bond, Greenhow, Jefferson, Harbor – 40.20
13. Samuelson, Figgers, Clark, Ferguson – 44.02
4×400 Meter Relay
5. Ward, Dennis, Hatton, Greenhow – 3:13.77
10. Richardson Salazar, Kosgei, Mathis, Warmington – 3:20.16
110-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
1. David Warmington – 13.91wQ (4.9)
110-Meter Hurdles (Finals)
1. David Warmington – 13.79 (-0.5)*
Long Jump
1. Channing Ferguson – 7.63m/25-0.5 (2.6)
— Jalen Clark – NM
Pole Vault
1. Dillon McCarthy – 5.06m/16-7.25
— Parker Samuelson – NH
Shot Put
3. Brandon Dennis – 15.49m/50-10*
Discus
1. Dylan Targgart – 56.09m/184-0
Women’s Individual Results
100 Meters (Prelims)
1. Cynteria James – 11.32wQ (3.1)*
2. Zaya Akins – 11.35wQ (4.2)*
5. Anastasia Sumpter – 11.89wQ (3.9)
100 Meters (Finals)
1. Cynteria James – 11.01 (1.7)*
2. Zaya Akins – 11.26 (1.7)*
4. Anastasia Sumpter – 11.69 (1.7)*
200 Meters
1. Aalliyah Francis – 22.92w (2.4)*
3. Jahnile Registre – 23.73w (2.4)*
10. Anastasia Sumpter – 24.72w (2.4)*
12. Madison Childress – 24.80 (1.1)*
400 Meters
1. JaMeesia Ford – 51.16*
3. Jahnile Registre – 54.27
5. Sylvia Chelangat – 54.87
1500 Meters
11. Sarah DiVasta – 5:04.01*
12. Sarah Neville – 5:05.17*
4×400 Meter Relay
1. Ford, Akins, Chelangat, Francis – 3:34.80
Long Jump
2. Prommyse Hoosier – 6.06m/19-10.75w (2.2)
7. Madison Childress – 5.56m/18-3w* (2.3)
Pole Vault
2. Hannah Togami – 3.85m/12-7.5*
11. Rachel Valentine – 3.40m/11-1.75
15. Julia McBride – 3.25m/10-8*
— Mia Joseph – NH
— Lena Richardson – NH
— Emma Stone – NH
* – denotes outdoor PR
