Jan. 24, 2015

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CLEMSON, S.C./BLACKSBURG, Va. – A win for Markus Leemet in the men’s heptathlon highlighted what was a busy day for the Gamecock track and field team as it wrapped up competition at the Bob Pollock and Hokie Invites. Carolina tallied wins in five different events between the two meets on Saturday alone.

The team had a pair of individual wins at the Hokie Invite, hosted by Virginia Tech. It started with a win for Precious Holmes in the 400m. She was followed closely by her teammate Aalayah Faulcon, who would take second. In the men’s 400, Clayton Gravesande and Ryan Bermudez finished second and third, respectively, with Gravesande setting a new season-best time of 46.93.

Ncincilili Titi posted the team’s best 200m time of the season to earn the win for Carolina. His mark of 21.32 currently ranks in the top 30 nationally as well. The team’s final win in Blacksburg would come in the men’s 4x400m relay. The group of Greg Chiles, Gravesande, Jussi Kanervo and Bermudez won in a time of 3:12.01.

Out at Clemson, Leemet had to make up some ground on the second day of the heptathlon, as he sat in second after the first four events. He would claim a convincing win in the event after sweeping the 60m hurdles, pole vault and 1000m events, closing the day with a 700-point advantage on second place. His 5,181 total points were the fifth-most in program history and the most by any Gamecock since 2009.

Nakita Gray would also write her name in the record book Saturday, posting a high jump of 1.78m (5’10) to win the women’s high jump. That beats her previous season best by .01m and now gives her the fourth and fifth-best jumps in school history.

In other events at the Bob Pollock Invite, Chalese Davis (60m hurdle), Anna Todd (mile) and Kevin Keating (800m) each came in second place for their respective events.

The team will rejoin this week to prepare for its biggest test of the season thus far, the Armory Collegiate meet which will begin next Friday. The event, held in New York City, will feature some of the best college teams as well as individual Olympic hopefuls.