Feb. 21, 2015

Results

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A pair of facility records were broken by Gamecock athletes on a fitting day, as the track and field team closed out the final home meet ever at its current indoor track Saturday at the Gamecock Invitational. Carolina won 12 events in total, highlighted by Nakita Gray’s facility record and second-best indoor high jump in program history.

Gray bested her previous career best by an inch, surpassing a mark of 1.82 meters on her final attempt. Chalese Davis (1.65m) and Sarah Graham (1.62m) tied for second overall in the event. Tyjon Williams matched his personal best in the men’s high jump to earn the win, and now has his top three marks of the season within the last three weekends.

In other field events, Megan Wall set a new personal record in the pole vault with a mark of 3.85 meters. It barely edges out her previous best of 3.82m, set last season at the SEC championship. Alexis Murphy won the long jump at 5.73 meters, and Josh Awotunde won his first career collegiate event in the shot put (17.06 meters)

The Gamecocks were equally dominant in the running events, starting with a sweep of the 55m dash. Gabrielle Gray won on the women’s side with a time of 6.97, and Chris Walker won for the men (6.43, matching a personal best). Sarah Graham won the 55m hurdles with a time of 8.28.

In the distance events, Monica York was the fastest of five Gamecocks in the top six of the women’s mile. Her time of 5:19.62 sets a new facility record, breaking Anna McElrath’s mark that was set two weeks ago at the USC Open. McElrath finished second on Saturday, followed by Kaylee Wessel, Sarah Taylor and Allie Sprague. In the men’s mile, Alex Sullivan (4:28.98) and Greg Lowing (2:05.93) finished first and second overall in a tight race.

The women’s 3000m race was equally packed with Garnet and Black. Sarah Falta won the event for the second time in as many home meets, and Carolina would round out the top five with Regina Schreiber, Allie Whitley, Brandy Wybersky and Ashley Hrubala.

Ncincilili Titi was the lone Gamecock competing at the Arkansas Open, but he made his final weekend count. The sprinter went for a season-best time of 20.87 to win the 200m, the fourth-fastest in program history. It also ranks as the eleventh-fastest time in the country entering the weekend.

The team will now rest up and prepare for the SEC Championships, hosted this season by the University of Kentucky. The meet begins Friday.