Gamecocks Lead Armory Invitational Through One Day

Feb. 3, 2017

NEW YORK CITY — The University of South Carolina track and field program paced the field on Friday, the opening day of the 2017 Armory Track Invitational. Facing a strong field that includes many of the nation’s top teams, the Gamecocks lead the men’s competition through six scored events with 27.5 points.

Not to be outdone, the Carolina women also had a great day in New York City. Through five scored events, the Gamecocks stand fifth on the women’s side, with 13 points. That total does not include Carolina’s 21 points from invitational events, including the women’s 400m, where Precious Holmes earned the victory and two more Gamecocks finished in the top-five.

Oklahoma leads the women’s standings, with 27 points. The University of Toronto has 23, followed by Richmond with 17 and Ohio State with 16. On the men’s side, Carolina is trailed by Duke with 26 points, Toronto and Columbia with 20 each and Ohio State with 19.

For the men, Yann Randrianasolo led the way by finishing tops among collegiate long jump entrants, while Ben Bonhurst, Eric Favors, Otis Jones and Tye Williams also collected top-three finishes. For the Carolina women, Holmes was joined on the 400m podium by Briana Haith, and several more Gamecocks scored points on the first of two days in Manhattan.

Freshman Alycia Springs continues to improve over her first season and set a new personal best on Friday. The rookie was ninth in the competition after three attempts, but her last effort of 49-1 ½ was good for fourth place overall and ranks 10th in Carolina history.

Ncincilili Titi matched his PR in the 60m semifinals and will enter tomorrow as the third seed. The junior recorded a time of 6.77; his final is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. tomorrow.

The women’s 60mH continues to be a strong event for South Carolina, and never was that more evident than Friday in the Big Apple. Four of the nine student-athletes to reach the finals are from Carolina, including the top qualifier, Taranisha Taylor. Her mark of 8.26 is a new PR, sixth-best in Carolina history and 23rd in the nation this season. Joining her in the finals tomorrow at 1:20 p.m. are Rougui Sow, Milan Parks and Funlayo Oluwole.

On the men’s side, Isaiah Moore punched his ticket to Saturday’s 60mH final. His semifinal time of 7.80 gives him the second seed tomorrow, with the final going off at 1:26 p.m.

Carolina grabbed three of the top-10 spots in women’s high jump. Makyla Stanley was the top performer, earning four points with a sixth-place finish after a best jump of 19-0. Parks placed ninth but earned one point as the eighth-best collegiate finisher, and Natasha Dicks was 10th, just outside of the points.

Randrianasolo made his mark in New York City with a strong effort in the men’s long jump. In just his second collegiate event, the French international placed second overall but tops among collegiate performers to earn the 10 points. His leap of 24-9 ¼ is fifth-best in Carolina history.

Williams earned his third podium finish of the season as he placed second in the high jump invitational on Friday. The junior notched a mark of 6-11 ¾ to finish second in the competition.

Simon Gyllensten had a strong night for Carolina with a fifth-place finish in the pole vault. His best attempt was 15-11, and teammate Armand Woodley place just outside the points, in ninth.

Senior Maya Evans added a point to the Carolina women’s tally in the 500m invitational. Her time of 1:15.53 was good for eighth place on Friday. The Gamecocks also had a pair of top-three finishers in the non-invitational portion of the 500, with Kara Lyles and Jordan Fields finishing second and third, respectively.

In the men’s 500m, Jones took home second place. He was barely edged out at the line by Hampton’s Justin Beatty in the sixth and final heat. Beatty was credited with a time of 1:04.056 while Jones came in at 1:04.059.

Late in the afternoon, Holmes provided the highlight of the day in the women’s 400m invitational. With a large group of family members cheering her on, the Connecticut native won the second heat in 53.57 and watched as that time held up for the overall victory. Haith placed third in 54.39, and Aliyah Abrams took home fifth with a run of 54.55. Holmes now ranks 14th in the nation in the event.

The last men’s event to finish up on Friday was the shot put, with two more Gamecocks on the podium. Bonhurst came in second, with a best mark of 58-6 ¾. Favors was one spot behind his teammate, at 58-4.

In their final event of the day, Carolina finished seventh in the women’s distance medley relay. The Gamecocks came home in a time of 12:04.55 to snag two points.

NOTABLE

Senior Mary Reiser checked in 10th in the 5000m, and because two of the runners ahead of her were unattached, she grabbed a point as the eighth-best collegiate runner. Her time was 17:44.43.

QUOTING HEAD COACH Curtis Frye

UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS

The Gamecocks will finish the Armory Invitational on Saturday. Events begin at 9 a.m. ET, and NBCSN will have television coverage of select events beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET.