Feb. 7, 2015

Results

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Carolina track team opened the month of February at home Saturday, hosting the USC Open. The depth of the team shined as many saw their first action of the indoor season and the Gamecocks took home the title in eight events overall.

Chalese Davis was one of those winners, taking the 55m hurdle title with a time of 7.89 in the finals. That shatters her personal best, set back in 2013. The senior would also take second in the long jump, fifth in the high jump and seventh in the shot put.

In the distance runs the Gamecock women would win three titles, with Ashley Miller taking the 800m (2:24.63), Anna McElrath tallying her first collegiate win in the mile (5:26.84) and Sarah Falta winning the 3000m (10:51.85). Carolina would have at least two finish in the top three for all three events.

In the field events, Megan Wall won the women’s pole vault comfortably with a height of 12 feet, 1 1/2 inches. Nakita Gray continues to rack up the win in the high jump, again winning a weekend title with a jump of five feet, 9 3/4 inches.

On the men’s side, Jussi Kanervo edged out four other teammates to win the 55m hurdles. He shaved almost a full tenth of a second off his preliminary time to win in the finals with a time of 7.36. That just beat out Dondre Echols’ time of 7.40. In the distance events, Daniel Novak crossed first in the 800m, beating teammates David Yang (2:03.99) and Greg Lowing (2:05.96) with a time of 2:03.01.

Clarence Gallop would be the top collegiate competitor in the weight throw, with his toss of 18.09 meters beating his teammate Josh Awotunde by less than two feet. Awotunde would finish second in the shot put (17.22m).

After gaining valuable rest for many of its top performers and even more valuable experience for its depth, the team now will have a week to prepare for its biggest meet of the season. The Tyson Invitational will begin Friday, with host Arkansas welcoming in many of the top teams in the country.