Gamecocks Win Twice to Open Black and Gold Challenge
Stoddard, Woodley start outdoor campaign with victories
ORLANDO, Fla. — The University of South Carolina opened its outdoor track & field season on Friday, as a handful of student-athletes competed at the Black and Gold Invitational. Despite the limited number of events, Carolina snagged two victories at the UCF Soccer & Track Complex.
Anna Kathryn Stoddard (women’s 1500m) and Armand Woodley (men’s pole vault) scored Carolina victories on Friday. The vast majority of Gamecocks are in action Saturday in their first meet of the outdoor slate.
The Gamecocks got their first victory of the 2019 outdoor campaign from Woodley, who jumped 5.10m (16-8 ¾) to claim the men ‘s pole vault. An NCAA qualifier as a sophomore in 2017, Woodley’s quest to reach the national championships for a second time got a boost of momentum as he got off to a great start on Friday.
In her final indoor meet of 2019, Stoddard led the Carolina DMR to a scoring finish at the SEC Championships, and Friday she sent signals that the outdoor season could be even better. The Greenwood, S.C., native ran 4:34.23, the ninth-best women’s 1500m effort in Carolina history, to notch the victory. Freshman Maryah Nasir was right on her heels, running 4:35.68 to finish second.
Senior Makyla Stanley opened her final outdoor season with a podium finish in women’s long jump. Stanley took second place on Friday, with her top attempt measuring in at 5.86m (19-2 ¾).
An NCAA Championships qualifier last season as a Kennesaw State freshman, Tyler Jones was tremendous in his first outdoor meet as a Gamecock. Jones took second in the men’s long jump and was the top collegian with a leap of 7.19m (23-7 ¼).
The final event of the day for Carolina was the women’s 2000m steeplechase, and Kelsey Larkin finished on the podium. Larkin ran 7:13.50 in her first collegiate steeplechase and came in third place.
FROM THE COACH
“This was a good opener for the student-athletes that competed today. They’re tired, because we’ve done some intense training this week, but they still got after it today and posted some good marks. We’ve had some tremendous team bonding moments on this trip, and that kind of camaraderie helps us perform better. AK is super confident after scoring at SECs; that entire distance group is unified, and they’re ready to do big things. They’re holding each other accountable, and I expect them all to have good seasons. This is a home meet for Armand; his parents are here cheering for him, and he wants to get to nationals. It will be tough, but I know he’s capable, and today was a good start.”- Head Coach Curtis Frye
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
The Black and Gold Challenge continues Saturday in Orlando, with the first event beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
| FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2019 • BLACK AND GOLD CHALLENGE • MEN’S RESULTS | ||
| Pole Vault | ||
| 1. Armand Woodley | 5.10m | 16-8 3/4 | |
| 4. Timothy McEvoy | 4.40m | 14-5 1/4 | |
| 9. Benjamin Womble | 3.80m | 12-5 1/2 | |
| –. Bryce Simpson | NH | |
| –. Seth Rabinowitz | NH | |
| –. Nick Couchell | NH | |
| Long Jump | ||
| 2. Tyler Jones | 7.19m | 23-7 1/4 | |
| 14. Benjamin Womble | 6.36m | 20-10 1/2 | |
| FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2019 • BLACK AND GOLD CHALLENGE • WOMEN’S RESULTS | ||
| Hammer Throw | ||
| 6. Amanda Murphy | 52.04m | 170-9 | |
| 19. Nina Gambacorta | 39.88m | 130-10 | |
| Pole Vault | ||
| –. Hailey Sweatman | NH | |
| –. Adele Blalock | NH | |
| Long Jump | ||
| 2. Makyla Stanley | 5.86m | 19-2 3/4 | |
| 1500m | ||
| 1. Anna Kathryn Stoddard | 4:34.23 | |
| 2. Maryah Nasir | 4:35.68 | |
| 7. Brooke Wilson | 4:42.87 | |
| 2000m Steeplechase | ||
| 3. Kelsey Larkin | 7:13.50 | |
