Akins Secures Pair of U20 World Championship Medals
LIMA, Peru (Sept 3, 2024) – International competition has come to a close for the Gamecocks as a quartet of South Carolina student-athletes put the finishing touches on the U20 World Championships this past weekend in Lima, Peru.
Zaya Akins headlined the Gamecocks with a pair of medals in the 400 meter and the 4×400 meter relay. Akins was the first Carolina athlete to compete, doing so in the 400m prelims on Wednesday, Aug. 28 where she clocked a time of 52.69 to win the fourth heat. Later that afternoon, Akins finished third overall in the semifinals when she posted 52.11. The following day, Akins captured the bronze medal in the U20 400m sprint when she crossed the line in 52 seconds flat. Akins capped off her competition in the 4x400m relay as the anchor leg for the United States, leading the team to a gold medal with a mark of 3:30.74.
Three additional Gamecocks made it to the finals as Jaouad Khchina, Cynteria James and Cheyla Scott represented their respective countries. Khchina ran the 1500m for Morocco, clocking 3:42.15 in the prelims and then 3:46.51 in the finals to finish 10th overall. James ran the 4x100m relay, running 44.22 in the prelims to place second overall, but was unable to secure a medal as her relay squad was disqualified in the finals. The newest member of the Gamecocks, Scott, competed in the high jump and advanced to the finals after clearing 1.83m. She then placed 10th overall in the finals, clearing the bar at 1.80m to conclude her time in Peru.
