Gamecocks Open Carolina Challenge
Womble represents Carolina on historic first day of multi competition
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina track & field team was back in action Thursday as it hosted the opening day of the 2019 Carolina Challenge. The day featured the first-ever women’s pentathlon and men’s heptathlon events in the history of the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex.
Sophomore Benjamin Womble was the lone Gamecock in action Thursday, as he took part in the heptathlon. Through four of seven events, Womble stands in seventh place with a score of 2,407 points.
Womble opened the day by matching a personal best in the 60m with a time of 7.45. He followed with a long jump of 5.96m (19-6 ¾), then he shattered his shot put PR with a throw of 11.44m (37-6 ½). That effort boosted him from ninth to third in the overall standings.
In the final event of the day, high jump, Womble cleared 1.68 (5-6), the eighth-best mark of the competition.
The first pentathlon in the history of the Carolina Indoor Complex was won by Tennessee’s Kiara Rhodes, whose mark of 3,762 ranks 23rd in the NCAA this season. The heptathlon leader through four events is unattached athlete Alex Bloom with a score of 3,241 points.
FROM THE COACH
“It’s great that we can present special events like the pentathlon and the heptathlon here at Carolina. They are events where student-athletes oftentimes have to travel a long way just to compete. We’re fortunate to have a facility where we can give Ben, who is developing into a very good decathlete, a chance to take part in a meet. It’s hard to find times for your developing athletes to compete, because there just aren’t very many opportunities to do the multis during the regular season, so we’re very happy to have a chance for our multi athletes gain experience.”- Head Coach Curtis Frye
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
The Carolina Challenge continues Friday as the full meet gets rolling. Events begin at 10 a.m. ET at the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 17 and younger.
| THURSDAY, JAN. 31, 2019 • CAROLINA CHALLENGE • MEN’S RESULTS | ||
| Heptathlon Overall (Through 4 of 7 Events) | ||
| 7. Benjamin Womble | 2,407 points | |
| Heptathlon 60m | ||
| 5. Benjamin Womble | 7.45 | |
| Heptathlon Long Jump | ||
| 9. Benjamin Womble | 5.96m | 19-6 3/4 | |
| Heptathlon Shot Put | ||
| 4. Benjamin Womble | 11.44m | 37-6 1/2 | |
| Heptathlon High Jump | ||
| 8. Benjamin Womble | 1.68m | 5-6 | |
