March 25, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Saturday was another banner day in the history of the University of South Carolina track & field program as the Gamecocks completed the Weems Baskin Invitational, the first meet in the history of Sheila & Morris Cregger Track. Carolina finished the day with victories in eight events, wowing the home crowd in an afternoon filled with top-class performances.

Alycia Springs led the way for the Gamecocks, winning both the shot put and the discus on the women’s side. Seniors Tyler Brockington (400mH) and Natasha Dicks (triple jump) also added victories in their first appearance at Cregger Track, as did junior Tye Williams (high jump), while both 4x100m relay teams and the women’s 4x400m squad also found the winner’s circle.

Saturday’s success came on the heels of five Carolina wins from Friday. Markus Leemet (pole vault B and javelin B), Olivia Hassler (javelin), Rougui Sow (long jump) and the women’s 4x800m relay squad all won events on the first day at Cregger Track.

The Gamecocks took their first win of the day in the women’s 4x100m relay. Rougui Sow, Tyler Brockington, Taranisha Taylor and Maiya Dendy posted a time of 44.86, just edging out Virginia Tech’s 45.06 for the win.

Carolina was also victorious in the men’s 4x100m relay. In a thrilling race, the Gamecock quartet of Darrell Singleton Jr., David Winters, Ncincilili Titi and Ryan Bermudez stopped the clock in 39.43, just .01 faster than the Barbados National Team, who was on hand Saturday to help South Carolina open Cregger Track.

Once the 100m sprinters moved to their individual race, Carolina was again strong. Winters placed second overall and tops among collegiate entrants, matching his PR of 10.34. The senior trailed only 2016 Olympian Levi Cadogan of Barbados, who clocked in at 10.22.

In the women’s shot put, Springs continued to build on a tremendous freshman season. The Charlotte, N.C., native was already leading the event when she stepped in for her sixth and final throw. The effort of 50-9 ¼ clinched the event victory and now stands seventh in South Carolina history.

One of the few student-athletes remaining at South Carolina who participated in the last Weems Baskin Invitational, in 2014, Brockington was eager for an opportunity to compete at Cregger Track, and she made the most of it on Saturday. The fifth-year senior easily won the 400mH, with her time of 56.93 almost three seconds clear of the field.

Like Brockington, Dicks was victorious in the last edition of the Weems Baskin Invitational, and she earned the triple jump title again on Saturday. The Aiken, S.C., product jumped 43-3 ¼ to earn the victory at Cregger Track.

Three Gamecocks finished in the top-five of the men’s shot put. Josh Awotunde was the top collegiate finisher and set a collegiate PR of 64-10 ¾ to come in second overall. Ben Bonhurst placed third at 60-1 ¾, and Eric Favors was fifth at 56-5 ¾.

Springs won for the second time in one day when she took the discus throw. The freshman beat the field by 17 feet with her effort of 150-8.

Williams took the last individual victory for the Gamecocks, in the men’s high jump. The junior cleared 6-9 ¾ for the win.

Last but not least, Carolina won a tight battle in the women’s 4x400m relay. Maya Evans, Precious Holmes, Kara Lyles and Brockington came home in 3.38:39, just .39 seconds ahead of Virginia Tech.

QUOTING HEAD COACH Curtis Frye

UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS

The Gamecocks continue the outdoor season next weekend at the Florida Relays. The meet runs March 30 — April 1 in Gainesville, Fla.