Track & Field Returns Home for Carolina Classic
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Feb. 5, 2026) – South Carolina returns to the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex this weekend for the 2026 Carolina Classic.
Follow the Meet
Live results for this weekend’s Carolina Classic can be found by clicking here. Fans can also follow along with updates on X (Twitter) by following @GamecockTrack.
Know Before You Go
Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex does have a CLEAR BAG POLICY that will be in effect. Learn everything you need to know about the Clear Bag Policy by clicking here. There is also a WATER BOTTLE POLICY for all patrons and that is: one clear, plastic disposable water bottle is permitted. No hard, non-clear refillable bottles are allowed inside the facility.
Parking
For the 2026 Carolina Classic will vary each day. For Friday, due to the amount of home events, fans will be asked to either park in available street parking or utilize the Key Road Shuttle (1213 Key Road, Columbia, S.C.). The shuttle on Friday will operate for both track and softball fans and will end at 8:45 p.m. Saturday, fans can park in the Athletic Village Garage ($10) or street parking surrounding the facility.
Ticket Information
All patrons will be granted FREE ADMISSION this weekend. Please note that the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex is a CASH ONLY facility for any and all transactions.
Meet Information
The Carolina Classic is a two-day meet and will start at 4:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon. The first field event will be both men’s and women’s triple jump, while the first track event will be the women’s 60m hurdles. The last event slated for that evening will be the men’s distance medley relay at 7:40 p.m. Day two action will start at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning with the women’s high jump. The day will conclude after the men’s 4x400m relay at 2:45 p.m. There will be 13 total teams competing this weekend, highlighted by South Carolina and Baylor. The Gamecocks will also welcome East Carolina, North Carolina A&T and South Carolina State among others.
Starting Strong
The Gamecocks have come out of the gates hot to start the indoor season. Last week at the Razorback Invitational, South Carolina broke a pair of program records in the women’s pole vault (Jathiyah Muhammad – 4.50m) and the women’s DMR (Buridon, Garrett, Mast, Elbadra – 10:51.52). In all, South Carolina recorded 12 new Top 10 program marks while in Fayetteville, Ark.
In the Rankings
With only four weekends left of competition until the NCAA Indoor Championship, Gamecock fans can start leaderboard watching. To qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championship in Fayetteville, Ark., athletes must rank Top 16 in their own individual events while ranking Top 12 for relay qualifications.
As it stands now, South Carolina has a combined 15 entries for the national championship meet. Tyson Williams leads all Gamecocks in rankings as he holds to the top spot in the men’s 200m with a time of 20.47. Zaya Akins sits second in the 400m (51.15), with Salma Elbadra ranking third in the women’s 3K (8:41.76). Both men and women’s 4x400m relays are comfortably inside the top five nationally, while the women’s DMR squad ranks fourth overall and looking primed for a national title run.
