COLUMBIA, S.C. — The 2019 indoor regular season came to a close Saturday for the University of South Carolina track & field program as the Gamecocks hosted the 2019 USC Indoor Open. Four Gamecocks were victorious as the team made its final preparations for the indoor postseason.

Malik Paul (Men’s Weight Throw), Yann Randrianasolo (Men’s Long Jump), Armand Woodley (Men’s Pole Vault) and KD Young (Women’s Shot Put) each earned a win to build momentum for next week’s SEC Indoor Championships. Randrianasolo’s performance was especially notable, as it significantly strengthened his NCAA Championships prospects, and fellow senior Isaiah Moore also took important steps toward earning a spot in the national top-16.

Carolina’s first win of the day came from Paul, who topped the weight throw for his first victory as a Gamecock. Paul’s top attempt checked in at 17.01m (55-9), almost a full meter clear of the field.

The Gamecocks continued their morning field success as Young brought home the women’s shot put title. It’s the first victory of the season for the 2018 SEC All-Freshman honoree, and her top throw was measured at 14.54m (47-8 ½).

Randrianasolo only jumped two times Saturday, but he took care of business with his second attempt. The senior was measured at 7.94m (26-0 ¾), moving him up from 16th to fifth on the 2019 NCAA list. It’s also the second-best mark among French athletes this season, the fourth-best effort in Carolina history and the 14th-best mark in the world this year.

Woodley has set new personal bests each of the last two weeks, and while he couldn’t match that feat again Saturday, he did leave with his second individual win of the season. The senior cleared 5.26m (17-3) for the victory.

Moore, a 2017 first-team All-American, made his 2019 home debut in the men’s 60m hurdles and had a very productive day. The redshirt senior ran a season-best 7.78 in prelims and cut his time to 7.76 in the semifinals, which is a new PR, the 10th-best time in Gamecock history and No. 15 on the NCAA leaderboard. In the final, Moore was the top collegiate finisher with a mark of 7.84.

Senior Milan Parks continues to improve each and every weekend, and Saturday was no different. Parks finished as the top collegian in the women’s 60m hurdles and set a personal best for the fourth time this season. Her mark of 8.23 is sixth in the Carolina record book and ranks 19th in the NCAA this year.

Adele Blalock had another strong day in the women’s pole vault. The Carolina junior finished second overall and was the top collegian with a mark of 3.80m (12-5 ½).

In the women’s long jump, Makyla Stanley turned in another good day. The senior got progressively better as the day went on, maxing out on her last attempt with a jump of 5.96m (19-6 ¾). That matches her 2019 season best.

Carlos Wilson advanced all the way from the early prelims to run in his first collegiate 60m final. Wilson finished eighth, with his top time coming in the final, 6.86.

Two Gamecocks made the final of the women’s 60m. Stanley finished fourth in 7.46 and Parks took sixth in 7.52. The race also featured Gamecock legend Miki Barber (1999-2003), who opened her 2019 campaign by finishing second. Barber, a five-time NCAA champion, is in her 16th season as a professional.

Amanda Murphy finished on the podium in the women’s weight throw, grabbing bronze to lead the Gamecocks in the event. Murphy’s top throw came in at 16.88m (55-4).

Macie Kavanaugh left the track with her best day yet in the 800m. The freshman ran 2:12.85, her best mark of the season and the third-best time of the competition.

In the women’s 3000m, Brooke Wilson led the way for Carolina. Wilson finished third with a time of 10:15.70, and she was one of six Gamecocks in the race’s top eight finishers.

Carolina ended the day with good runs in the 4x400m relay. Noah Walker, Jeremiah Talbert, Kaden Briggs and Ian Fladd clocked in at 3:17.49 to take third in the men’s race. Jhari Williams, Kavanaugh, Amecia Pennamon and Simone Wark claimed second in the women’s race with a mark of 3:49.40.

FROM THE COACH