Feb. 12, 2016

Results

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. – The Gamecock track and field team had a short but eventful first day at the Tyson Invitational out at the University of Arkansas, with a pair of big-time personal bests serving as the Friday highlights. Senior Dondre Echols earned a big win in the 60m hurdles and gave notice that he’s a national contender in the event.

It was a busy day for the sprints, with the prelims, semifinal and final rounds packed into a span of just over two and a half hours. Echols’ expansion into the 60m dash in previous meets served him well, as his fitness proved to be the difference in earning the win. He improved his time over the three hurdle rounds, winding up with a time of 7.69 seconds to win the final. That moves him into a tie for the fastest in the country this season, and his new personal best moves him up to seventh in program history.

The team’s other significant personal best came in the field events. Michael Wamer improved his long jump for the second-straight weekend, reaching a top mark of 7.24 meters Friday afternoon. That moves him into a tie with Alexandre Asselin for eighth in program history.

Back on the track, the men’s and women’s quarter-milers put up solid times. For the men, Ryan Bermudez ran a new personal best at 47.64 to take ninth overall. He was the team’s top finisher, and ran the team’s second-fastest 400m of the season.

Briana Haith would also set a new personal record, running 10th overall but with a time of 52.92. Her time ranks 10th nationally based on marks entering the weekend, this now gives South Carolina three of the top 15 women in the 400m this season (joining Erika Rucker and Aliyah Abrams).

The Tyson Invite wraps up tomorrow, starting in the morning with men’s and women’s high jump and triple jump. On the track, the opening rounds of the 200m begin the day, with the highly-anticipated 4x400m relays closing the meet.