NEW YORK CITY — The University of South Carolina added four more victories to the tally Saturday as the Gamecocks competed on the final day of the 2019 Dr. Sander Columbia Challenge. The Gamecock quarter-milers carried the day, with Arinze Chance and Wadeline Jonathas winning individual 400m titles and both 4x400m relays claiming victories.

The four triumphs give Carolina seven wins for the weekend at the New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory. Eric Favors (men’s shot put), Yann Randrianasolo (men’s long jump) and Makyla Stanley (women’s long jump) each earned Friday wins, with Favors throwing a personal-best 19.38m.

In the women’s team competition, the Gamecocks finished third with 59 points. Ohio State won with 74 points, while Duke had 67.5 and Villanova tied the Gamecocks with 59.

The men’s competition was won by BYU with 89 points. Carolina came in seventh, scoring 52 points.

Jonathas ran in the fastest heat of the women’s 400m but was not intimidated and led the event wire-to-wire. The junior turned in a time of 53.46 for her first individual victory as a Gamecock.

Chance got out quickly in his heat of the men’s 400m, and while his time wasn’t equal to last week’s school-record performance, it was more than good enough for victory on Saturday. One week after breaking the Carolina indoor mark at 46.15, Chance stopped the clock in 47.40.

Carolina’s quarter-milers dominated the women’s 4x400m relay. Stephanie Davis staked the Gamecocks to a big lead and was followed by Jonathas, Tatyana Mills and Aliyah Abrams. Carolina’s time of 3:37.19 was almost four seconds faster than Duke.

The final win of the meet for the Gamecocks came in the men’s mile relay. Carolina never trailed, with Chance racing out to a big lead. Otis Jones, a debuting Quincy Hall and Ty Jaye Robbins followed with a season-best mark of 3:09.84. That time ranks 14th in the NCAA this season.

Carolina opened the day with a big run from Anna Kathryn Stoddard. One day after pacing the distance medley relay to the fourth-best time in school history, Stoddard won her heat of the 3000m with a time of 9:55.57, the sixth-best effort in Carolina history.

Jones finished eighth in the men’s 800m to grab a point for the Gamecocks. In his final Armory appearance, the Sumter, S.C., native came home in 1:53.02.

Two Gamecocks added points in the women’s 200m. Abrams and Amecia Pennamon each ran in the morning heat, and their times remained in the top-eight throughout the day. Abrams finished fourth with a mark of 24.17, and Pennamon set a new indoor PR with a run of 24.35 to place eighth.

In the women’s mile, Allie Mueller battled every step of the way to secure an important point for the Gamecocks. Mueller spent much of the race in 11th place and started the final lap in ninth, but she made a pass in the final 100 meters to come in eighth. Her time of 4:54.39 was two seconds off her personal best.

FROM THE COACH