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Gamecocks Finish Regular Season at USC Indoor Open
Track and Field  . 

Gamecocks Finish Regular Season at USC Indoor Open

Carolina to make final adjustments for indoor postseason



COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina track & field team closes the regular season Saturday when it hosts the 2019 USC Indoor Open. The meet is the final home indoor competition of the season for Carolina, and events begin at 9 a.m. ET.

The Gamecocks welcome nearly 40 collegiate teams to the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex as they make their final preparations for the indoor postseason. Among the NCAA Division I teams scheduled to be in attendance are Bethune-Cookman, The Citadel, Coastal Carolina, College of Charleston, Coppin State, Florida A&M, Jacksonville, Lipscomb, Mercer, North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State.

FAN INFORMATION

Admission to the USC Indoor Open is free, and reentry is permissible throughout the day with an appropriate wristband.

Seating is first-come, first-served. After seats have been filled, standing room only admission is available until the building reaches capacity. Each fan is allowed to bring one folding chair, as long as it is placed in a safe and approved location that does not impede walkways.

The Athletics Clear Bag Policy will be in effect throughout the day. No outside food or beverage will be allowed, though a concession stand will be on-site for most of the day.

Free parking is available at the Heyward Street Garage, located at 1300 Heyward Street. Additional parking is available on the street-level spaces on Heyward, Marion, Whaley and Bull Streets.

A limited number of handicapped parking spaces will be available in the parking lot located next to the indoor facility, accessed off Marion Street, with the proper decal. Handicapped patrons may also drop off in the Marion Street lot, and they may also enter the facility via the ramp located on the Bull Street side of the facility.

FROM THE COACH

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“We’re overloading this week so that we can taper for next week. We’re running with less rest, plus faster times and longer distances. Next week, when they get more rest, they will rebound. There’s a science to performance. We do still have some of our top athletes competing this week. Yann [Randrianasolo] is going to long jump, Eric [Favors] is going to throw the shot put and Isaiah [Moore] is going to run the hurdles. He had his first performance of year this week. It was a pretty good one. It puts him seventh in the conference, but we have to move him from being 23rd in the country to top-16. Milan [Parks] had a tremendous week last week. She’s going to run Saturday, and she needs the support of the fans to get into the top-16 in the country. We’ve got a lot of kids still on the edge. Our women’s high-jumpers are on the edge, trying to get themselves up to 1.80m and the NCAAs.”– Head Coach Curtis Frye

PROJECTED STARTING LINEUPS (Click to Expand)

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NEW FACILITY LEADS TO INCREDIBLE MARKS

After two meets at the new Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex, it’s obvious that South Carolina’s new facility is one of the best in the nation. Already, the facility has produced 15 marks that currently rank in the NCAA Division I top-16.

MEN

• Shelby McEwen, Alabama – No. 1 | High Jump – 2.31m (7-7)

• Chance, O. Jones, Hall, Robbins, South Carolina – No. 8 | 4x400m – 3:05.68

• Daniel McArthur, North Carolina – No. 7 | Shot Put – 19.77m (64-10 ½)

• Rodney Rowe, North Carolina A&T – No. 8 | 200m – 20.70

• Tyrell Richard, South Carolina State – No. 9 | 400m – 46.01

• Arinze Chance, South Carolina – No. 13 | 400m – 46.15

• Michael Dickson, North Carolina A&T – No. 13 | 60mH – 7.75

• Benjamin Johnson, East Tennessee State – No. 13 | Weight Throw – 21.13m (69-4)

• Seth Whitener, Tennessee – No. 15 | Weight Throw – 20.91m (68-7 ¼)

• Hamilton, Sirleaf, Rowe, Stewart, North Carolina A&T – No. 15 | 4x400m – 3:07.22

WOMEN

• Aliyah Abrams, South Carolina – No. 3 | 400m – 52.58

• Cambrea Sturgis, North Carolina A&T – No. 11 | 200m – 23.19

• Stacey Destin, Alabama – No. 12 | High Jump – 1.80m (5-10 ¾)

• Lampkin, Roberson, Funcheon, Prieto, Alabama – No. 12 | 4x400m – 3:34.36

• Stephanie Davis, South Carolina – No. 13 | 400m – 53.07

LAST TIME OUT • FEBRUARY 8-9 • GAMECOCKS FACE THE NATION’S BEST

The Gamecocks squared off with 16 other top-25 programs at the Tiger Paw Invitational in what was perhaps the best collection of talent at a regular-season meet this year. The Gamecock quarter-milers once again stood tall. Quincy Hall ran 45.72 to set Carolina’s indoor 400m record for the second-straight week, and the women’s 4x400m relay quartet of Aliyah Abrams, Tatyana Mills, Stephanie Davis and Wadeline Jonathas ran 3:30.67, moving up to No. 3 on the NCAA leaderboard and No. 8 on the school’s all-time records list. It’s the fastest women’s 4×4 for the Gamecocks in 12 years.

Yann Randrianasolo (long jump) notched Carolina’s lone victory on the men’s side, jumping 7.78m, a season best, while Stephanie Davis (200m) grabbed the lone women’s victory with a time of 23.57, by far her personal best.

Other notable performances came from Wadeline Jonathas, whose 400m time of 52.86 kept her in the NCAA top-10 for another week, and Milan Parks, whose 60mH mark of 8.24 is the sixth-best effort in program history. Armand Woodley, who pole-vaulted 5.31m, left Clemson with the sixth-best indoor mark in Carolina history in his event.

GAMECOCKS LISTED 19th IN USTFCCA WOMEN’S RANKINGS

Carolina remained in the USTFCCCA top-20 for another week as the Gamecocks checked in at No. 19 on Monday. The Gamecocks have maintained a top-20 spot for the duration of the indoor season.

This week was the first of the season where the USTFCCCA utilized only marks obtained in 2019. The Carolina men had a productive week with the shift, moving up to No. 27, their highest mark of the season.

In the USTFCCCA’s #EventSquad rankings, the Gamecock women are listed second nationally in the 400m, ninth in the high jump, 12th in the 200m and 14th in the 60m. The Gamecock men are ranked fourth in the 400m and ninth in the 60m.

GAMECOCKS IN THE NCAA INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS

Through three weeks of the 2019 season, the Gamecocks feature 16 student-athletes and three relays with NCAA top-50 rankings in their individual events. The top-16 student-athletes in each event will qualify for the 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships, to be held March 8-9 in Birmingham, Ala. If the cutoff was today, the Gamecocks would send seven individuals and two relay squads to Birmingham.

CURRENTLY IN THE TOP-16

• Three Gamecocks are currently in good shape in the women’s 4x400m, Aliyah Abrams (3rd; 52.58), Wadeline Jonathas (ninth; 52.86) and Stephanie Davis (13th; 53.07) are in range of their first individual NCAA Indoor berths.

• In the men’s 400m, Quincy Hall’s school-record time of 45.72 ranks fourth in the nation. Arinze Chance’s time of 46.15, which stood as a program record for two weeks earlier this season, ranks 13th.

• Eric Favors is closing in on his first NCAA Championships berth with a mark of 19.38m (63-7), 14th in the men’s shot put.

• Yann Randrianasolo holds the 16th and final spot in the men’s long jump at 7.78m (25-6 ¼)

• The women’s 4x400m relay squad of Davis, Abrams, Tatyana Mills and Jonathas are ranked third in the nation with a time of 3:30.67.

• The men’s 4×4 team of Chance, Otis Jones, Hall and Ty Jaye Robbins is listed eighth in the nation with a school-record time of 3:05.68.

IN THE HUNT

• Isaiah Moore was on the track for the first time in 2019 last week, and he posted a 60mH time of 7.82, which ranks 20th.

• Two Gamecocks are in striking range in the women’s 60mH, with Milan Parks listed 22nd at 8.24 and Caitlyn Little 30th at 8.28.

• Armand Woodley’s new pole vault PR of 5.31m (17-5) has him 29th on the national list.

• Jones ranks 30th in the 800m with his season-best mark of 1:49.47 from the Tiger Paw Invitational.

• Davis dropped a major PR in the women’s 200m last week at Clemson, 23.57, which ranks 31st in the nation.

• In the women’s 60m, Maiya Dendy and Makyla Stanley are tied for 45th at 7.41.

• Men’s 60m sprinters Darrell Singleton Jr. and Evan Miller each hold down the No. 49 spot with matching times of 6.73.

• In the women’s DMR, the Gamecock quartet of Maryah Nasir, Sierra Biber, Macie Kavanaugh and Allie Mueller occupies the 37th position with a time of 11:40.39.

JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 2 • SCHOOL RECORDS FALL AT CAROLINA CHALLENGE

South Carolina hosted over 1,500 student-athletes as part of 48 collegiate teams Jan. 31 – Feb. 2 at the Carolina Challenge. The Gamecocks rewrote the record book at their second home meet. Leading the way was Quincy Hall, who set a then-indoor 400m program record with a mark of 45.84 on Friday night. Hall then came back Saturday and ran a 44.6 split on a 4x400m relay team that broke the school record with a mark of 3:05.68. Hall was joined by Arinze Chance, Otis Jones and Ty Jaye Robbins in the record relay run.

Overall, the Gamecocks won eight events at the Carolina Challenge. Aliyah Abrams won the 400m with a new personal best time of 52.58. Then she joined Stephanie Davis, Tatyana Mills and Wadeline Jonathas Saturday to run a time of 3:32.29 in the 4x400m relay.

Other winners included Timothy McEvoy (Open Pole Vault), Yann Randrianasolo (Long Jump Invite), Otis Jones (800m) and the Women’s DMR squad of Maryah Nasir, Sierra Biber, Macie Kavanaugh and Allie Mueller, which ran 11:40.39 to post the second-best mark in program history.

GAMECOCKS SWEEP SEC RUNNER OF THE WEEK HONORS

South Carolina won SEC Runner of the Week honors on both the men’s and women’s side on Feb. 6, as both Quincy Hall and Aliyah Abrams were celebrated by the conference. Hall ran the nation’s best men’s 400m time at the Carolina Challenge, 45.84, while Abrams moved up to No. 3 on the women’s 400m list, at 52.58. Both Gamecocks also anchored their respective 4x400m relay squads to NCAA top-10 marks.

The Gamecocks now own four SEC weekly honors this season. Abrams earned her first Women’s Runner of the Week honor Jan. 15, and Arinze Chance was named Men’s Co-Runner of the Week Jan. 22. The last time Carolina won four or more SEC weekly honors during the indoor season was 2007.

JANUARY 25-26 • SOUTH CAROLINA COMPETES AT DR. SANDER COLUMBIA CHALLENGE

The Gamecocks made their annual journey to New York City Jan. 25-26 for the Dr. Sander Columbia Challenge. On the women’s side, Carolina finished third at the scored meet, while the Gamecock men took seventh.

Carolina earned seven victories at The Armory, led by Eric Favors in the men’s shot put. The redshirt junior set an Irish indoor national record with his winning throw of 19.38m, fourth-best in Carolina history. Arinze Chance (400m), Yann Randrianasolo (men’s long jump) and the 4x400m relay also earned Gamecock wins on the men’s side. The mile relay ran their fastest time of the year to date, 3:09.84.

For the women, Wadeline Jonathas grabbed a double victory by winning the 400m and leading the 4x400m relay to victory. Makyla Stanley won the long jump, her first-career Armory victory, and she ran a personal-best 7.48 in the 60m.

JANUARY 18-19 • SOUTH CAROLINA OPENS NEW INDOOR FACILITY WITH GAMECOCK INAUGURAL

Curtis Frye’s team officially opened the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex Jan. 18-19 with the Gamecock Inaugural. The meet was a smashing success, as over 35 teams and 1,200 student-athletes were on hand to celebrate the first collegiate meet in Carolina’s new home.

The Gamecocks won 11 events at the historic meet, led by senior Arinze Chance’s effort in the men’s 400m Invite. Chance set what was at the time a new school record with his run of 46.15. That’s also a Guyanese national record. For a week, it stood as the fastest time in the NCAA this season and the fastest time in the world in 2019.

Other men’s winners at the Gamecock Inaugural include Otis Jones (800m) Yann Randrianasolo (Long Jump Invite), Noah Walker (Open 400m) and the 4x400m Relay.

The top women’s performer at the Gamecock Inaugural was junior Anna Kathryn Stoddard, who won the 3000m with a personal-record time of 10:01.77, more than 12 seconds better than her previous PR. Stoddard then anchored the Distance Medley Relay to a winning run of 11:48.77 on Saturday.

Additional women’s champions included Aliyah Abrams (200m Invite) Stephanie Davis (400m Invite), Maiya Dendy (60m Invite) and Carisma Holland (Shot Put Invite)

JANUARY 11 • GAMECOCKS WIN NINE EVENTS AT ORANGE & PURPLE ELITE

South Carolina won nine events at the Orange & Purple Elite, held Jan. 11 in Clemson, S.C. The Gamecocks finished tied with Florida State for the most victories at the six-team event.

Leading the way for Carolina on the women’s side was redshirt junior Aliyah Abrams, who captured the 400m title with a time of 52.78 and anchored Carolina’s winning 4x400m relay team, which stopped the clock in 3:34.43. Additional women’s event winners include Adele Blalock (pole vault) and Macie Kavanaugh (600m).

Like Abrams, Otis Jones was a two-time winner on the men’s side. The redshirt senior won the 600m with a late closing stretch to post a time of 1:18.77, and he led off the 4x400m relay that took the victory in 3:11.23. Other men’s winners for the Gamecocks included Arinze Chance (300m), Yann Randrianasolo (long jump) and Armand Woodley (pole vault).

DECEMBER 8 • GAMECOCKS DOMINATE CLEMSON OPENER

South Carolina took its sprinters and hurdlers to the Clemson Opener on Dec. 8. The Gamecocks dominated, winning seven of the nine events they entered.

Two returning All-Americans were victorious at Clemson, as Aliyah Abrams took the women’s 300m in 37.45, and Isaiah Moore won the men’s 60m hurdles, his first race as a Gamecock since June of 2017, with a time of 7.89. Abrams led the 4x400m relay team to a victory, and Darrell Singleton Jr. set a huge PR in the men’s 60m, with a winning time of 6.73.

Other winners at Clemson included Maiya Dendy (women’s 60m), Stephanie Davis (women’s 200m) and Milan Parks (women’s 60m hurdles).

FIVE GAMECOCKS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS BY FLOTRACK

Five Gamecocks were selected as Preseason All-Americans by FloTrack as the organization picked its top-16 student-athletes in each event over the holidays. Leading the way was junior college transfer Quincy Hall, who was picked third in the nation in the men’s 400m. Hanifah Abdulqadir was picked ninth in the women’s triple jump, while fellow jumps squad members Yann Randrianasolo (11th, men’s long jump) and Jordan Fields (12th, women’s high jump) were also selected. Last but not least, senior 800m specialist Otis Jones was picked 15th in his signature event.

GAMECOCKS RETURN 10 WITH ALL-AMERICA EXPERIENCE

South Carolina returns 10 student-athletes with past experience as NCAA All-Americans in 2019. Leading the way is redshirt junior Aliyah Abrams, who was part of Carolina’s third-place finish in the women’s 4x400m relay in 2016 and also earned top-16 finishes in the 2016 outdoor 400m and 2017 indoor 4x400m. Long jumper Yann Randrianasolo earned second-team status twice last season, as did high jumper Lissa Labiche, and Isaiah Moore was a first-team All-American in the outdoor 110m hurdles in 2017.

Other returning second-team All-Americans from last season include Hanifah Abdulqadir (indoor triple jump), Jordan Fields (indoor high jump), and the outdoor 4x100m relay team of Stephanie Davis, Maiya Dendy, Milan Parks and Makyla Stanley.

In addition to the on-track All-Americans, the Gamecocks welcome back 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-American Allie Mueller for her final college campaign. Mueller sported a 4.00 GPA in pharmacy last season and finished 11th in the SEC in the indoor mile.

UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS

The 2019 postseason begins next week with the annual running of the SEC Championships. The Gamecocks and their conference rivals will converge on the Randall Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark., as the University of Arkansas hosts the event Feb. 22-23. Live streaming coverage will be available on SEC Network+ with tape-delayed television coverage on SEC Network.