Trio of Gamecocks Earn SEC Weekly Honors
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Jan. 27, 2026) – South Carolina Track & Field produced top NCAA times over the weekend, resulting in a trio of Gamecocks earning SEC Indoor Track & Field weekly honors. The league office announced on Tuesday afternoon that South Carolina brought home Men’s Runner of the Week (Jaouad Khchina), Men’s Freshman of the Week (Andrew Salvodon) and the Women’s Runner of the Week (Zaya Akins).
Khchina, fresh off being named USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week, captured this week’s SEC Men’s Runner of the Week for his work in the 1000m. The Morocco native crossed the finish line at the Orange & Purple Invite with a time of 2:17.36. Khchina’s time set a new Gamecock program record for the 1000m, while also becoming the second fastest 1000m runner in collegiate history. In addition, he set a new Clemson Indoor Track Center facility record with his win on Friday.
Salvodon claimed a pair of NCAA top 10 times at the Orange & Purple Invite. He opened his weekend by clocking a 46.28 in the 400m, which ranks seventh in Gamecock history and eighth in the NCAA. Salvodon was then the anchor leg on the men’s relay squad that captured the crown with a time of 3:04.15, setting a new program record for indoor 4x400m relay. In addition to the top time in program history, the Gamecock quartet anchored by Salvodon currently sit second on the NCAA leaderboard.
Akins won both events in which she competed at the Orange & Purple Invite. The junior sprinter opened the meet with an NCAA-leading time in the women’s 400m, clocking 51.15 for a new personal best. In addition, her time set a new Clemson Indoor Track Center facility record and vaulted her into second all-time in program history. She closed out the meet as the leadoff leg in the women’s 4x400m relay, guiding the Gamecocks to a win with a time of 3:32.63. The quartet now rank ninth in the NCAA following this weekend.
South Carolina is back in action this weekend when the Gamecocks travel to Fayetteville, Ark. to take part in the Razorback Invitational on Friday, Jan. 30 and Saturday, Jan. 31.
