Gamecocks Win 13 at Home Indoor Opener

Jan. 11, 2014

Complete Results | Complete Results

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina showed off its youth at the Gamecock Open #1 on Saturday at the USC Indoor Complex as underclassmen posted eight of the Gamecocks’ 13 wins. The competition, the first of the season for South Carolina, included teams from Bethune Cookman, North Greenville, Claflin and Benedict in addition to other running clubs and unattached competitors.

Freshman Mollie Williams set a new personal record in the 55-meter hurdles to win her first collegiate race. Williams ran an 8.22 to capture the top-qualifying spot in the semifinals and then lowered her time to an 8.04 to top the field. Redshirt sophomore Sarah Graham (8.24) and Tyler Brockington (8.28) joined Williams in the top three.

In the men’s 55-meter hurdles, sophomore Dondre Echols set a new personal best with a 7.39 in his second race of the day to take the finals.

After qualifying in the third spot in the 55-meter dash, junior Eric Winfrey (6.36) edged out senior Chris Royster (6.37) in the finals, as junior Chris Walker (6.43) joined the duo to give the Gamecocks the top three spots in the event finals.

In the mile run, redshirt freshman Sango Asante pulled away in the final strides to post his first collegiate victory with a time of 4:39.98.

Freshman Leveshia McCoy got her first year in the Garnet and Black off on the right foot by winning the women’s 400-meter dash with a time of 1:02.45.

South Carolina swept the men’s and women’s 800-meter run with junior Kevin Keating taking the men’s section and sophomore Kaleigh Higgins besting the rest of the women’s field.

With a time of 9:13.40, freshman Greg Lowing won his first collegiate competition in the 3,000-meter run.

In the pole vault, junior Megan Wall kicked off her campaign with a clearance of 11-11.75 (3.65m) to start the season with a win. Sophomore Austin Eckenroth easily bested the men’s field, posting a top height of 15-11.00 (4.85m).

Freshman Natasha Dicks collected the women’s long jump win in her first meet as a Gamecock. Dicks posted a mark of 18-00.50 (5.50m) to capture the top spot.

Upperclassmen shined in the throwing events as redshirt junior Kaysee Sullivan won the shot put with an all-time indoor best throw of 46-03.50 (14.11m). South Carolina also captured the top-two spots in the men’s weight throw thanks to personal best performances from redshirt juniors Andrew Seay and Walker Selby. Seay’s throw of 58-07.50 (17.87m) was the best of the day with Selby taking second with a mark of 56-10.75 (17.34m).

South Carolina dives into competition next weekend at the Virginia Tech Invitational. The event begins Friday and continues Saturday at Rector Fieldhouse.