March 17, 2018
Outdoor Meet #1 ââ’¬” Black & Gold Challenge
ORLANDO, Fla. — The University of South Carolina track & field team picked up two more victories Saturday as the Gamecocks finished their outdoor season-opener, the Black & Gold Challenge. Aliyah Abrams (400m) and Rivaldo Leacock (400mH) notched wins to start the outdoor season with a big dose of momentum.
Overall, four Gamecocks will bring home a win from Orlando. Shelby Freedman (javelin) and Hailey Sweatman (pole vault) earned first-place finishes Friday.
Abrams was in action collegiately for the first time since the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships, and the redshirt sophomore showed very little rust. Her time of 52.90 paced the field on Saturday, giving Abrams her first win of the season.
Leacock brought home his first win as a Gamecock in his collegiate 400m hurdles debut. The St. George, Barbados, native cruised home in 52.51, over a second better than the rest of the field. Leacock was joined on the podium by teammate Simon Gyllensten, who finished third with a mark of 54.30.
Carolina started the day with two good runs in the 4x100m relay. On the women’s side, Milan Parks, Maiya Dendy, Makyla Stanley and Amecia Pennamon took second place, stopping the clock in 44.90 in their first relay of the season. The Gamecock men finished fourth, with Yann Randrianasolo, Darrell Singleton Jr., Yohance Thomas and Markus Leemet running 41.22.
The Carolina women fared very well in the 3000m, earning three of the top eight spots. Allie Mueller finished second in a time of 10:01.00, while Colleen Openshaw placed fourth and Sarah-Sims McGrath took eighth.
The Gamecock distance crew also had success in the 1500m. Anna Kathryn Stoddard‘s time of 4:39.43 just missed a PR, but it was good for second place on Saturday.
Carolina’s first 4x400m relay of the outdoor season ended with a podium finish on the women’s side. Precious Holmes, Stephanie Davis, Tatyana Mills and Aliyah Abrams combined for a time of 3:40.11, checking in third in their first effort of 2018.
In the field, Eric Favors led the Gamecocks with a second-place shot put finish. The redshirt sophomore set his outdoor PR with a mark of 59-11, one of three throws over 18 meters that Favors achieved Saturday.
FROM THE COACH
“Aliyah ran a good opener, and she came back and posted the same time on the anchor leg of the 4×4 relay, which is encouraging. She’s going to spend the next couple of days recovering, but it’s good to see her in such good shape to start the season. I also didn’t know that Rivaldo would be as fast as he was today. He showed today that he’s capable of going even faster, and he also had a great leg on his relay. Eric’s outdoor PR really stood out; he’s ready to have a big year, and our girls on the 4×1 relay were great. This was a great week. We got through our training trip healthy, and we’re excited to compete at home next week.” – Head Coach Curtis Frye
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
Carolina’s home opener is set for March 23-24, as the Gamecocks host the 2018 Weems Baskin Invitational. The meet starts Friday at 9 a.m. ET and runs all weekend at Sheila & Morris Cregger Track in Columbia.
| 4x100m Relay |
| 4. Randrianasolo, Singleton, Thomas, Leemet |
41.22 |
| 4x400m Relay |
| 5. Leacock, Jones, Robbins, Gyllensten |
3:13.59 |
| SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2018 – BLACK & GOLD CHALLENGE – WOMEN’S RESULTS |
| 4x100m Relay |
| 2. Parks, Dendy, Stanley, Pennamon |
44.90 |
| 4x400m Relay |
| 3. Holmes, Davis, Mills, Abrams |
3:40.11 |
