April 12, 2014

Complete Results

GREENVILLE, N.C. – South Carolina captured 18 wins on the way to topping the men’s and women’s team standings on the final day of competition at ECU’s Bill Carson Invitational. Three Gamecocks captured two individual wins each to lead the way – senior Chris Royster and sophomores Jermaine Collier and Anna Todd. Collier also ran on the men’s winning 4×400-meter relay squad.

In a four-team scored meet including South Carolina, East Carolina, Wilmington and Charlotte, the men’s team totaled 216 points, besting the Pirates’ 205 points. The No. 23 Gamecock women beat out ECU 192.5 to 190.

The Gamecocks clinched their team victories with first-place finishes in both the men’s and women’s 4×400-meter relays. The women’s quartet of freshmen Precious Holmes, Briana Haith, Aalayah Faulcon and Maya Evans won their race with a time of 3:42.98. The men turned in a time of 3:11.60 with the team of junior Eric Winfrey and Chris Walker along with seniors Nigel Redic and Chris Royster.

The Gamecocks opened the day with a pair of wins in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with freshmen Sango Asante and Sarah Falta. Both Asante and Falta ran at lifetime-best pace. Asante won by nearly 20 seconds, clocking in at 9:28.18. Falta ran the third-best time in school history in the event, taking the win by close to 25 seconds with a time of 11:17.78.

After posting the ninth-best long jump in program history last weekend, sophomore Alexis Murphy moved into eighth place all-time today with a mark of 19’7″ (5.97m). The personal record leap earned her the win as she bested a field that included ECU’s senior long jump All-American Tynita Butts.

In the men’s 100-meter dash, Royster won his heat and beat the rest of the field with his time of 10.39. It is his second 100-meter win of the season. Royster completed the swept of the sprints, in 200 meters with a time 20.87.

Sophomore Ahtyana Johnson lowered her 200-meter dash PR yet again, posting a 23.51 for her second win of the year. In the men’s 400-meter dash, Winfrey posted his first win of the year, running a 47.41.

South Carolina continued to show their strength in the hurdles with sophomore Jermaine Collier running a collegiate best 13.99 in the 110-meter hurdles to best his teammate sophomore Dondre Echols (14.18) for the win. Hours later, Collier captured his second win of the day, taking the 400-meter hurdles.

On the women’s side, the Gamecocks went 1-2 in the 400-meter hurdles. Junior Tamera Harris led the way with a 59.18 and sophomore Tyler Brockington took second with a time of 59.91.

Todd continued to lead the Gamecock’s middle distances winning the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:36.23. Todd returned to the track later in the day to top a 1-2-3 South Carolina finish in the 800-meter run. Todd clocked in at 2:12.17 with freshman Maya Evans just behind at 2:13.21 and sophomore Ashley Miller at 2:17.45.

In the women’s triple jump, freshman Natasha Dicks won her third triple jump competition of the outdoor season with a leap of 41-01.50 (12.53m).

School record holder Petra Olsen collected her second win of the season, dominating the field with a height of 13’2 ½” (4.03m). Freshman Kaleb Zuidema also picked up his second win of the season, hitting a mark of 218′ (66.46m) in the men’s javelin.

After today’s result, Drew Ricci has won three of four 800-meter races in his senior outdoor season. Ricci captured the win with a time of 1:51.46.

Gamecock sophomore Sarah Graham moved up in the South Carolina record book in the high jump, clearing 5’8 ¾” (1.75m). Graham took second with her new lifetime-best height.

This week, a small group of multi-event athletes are set to travel to the 44th Annual Mt. Sac/California Invitational at Azusa Pacific University to compete on Wed., Apr. 16, and Thurs., Apr. 17. Next weekend, the Gamecocks host their final home outdoor meet of the season on Sat., Apr. 19th, at the Weems Baskin Track.