Gamecocks Earn Gold on International Stage
Hall, Singleton lead Carolina contingent on international circuit
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COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina track & field program once again shined on the global stage over the past week as several Gamecocks competed around the world on the international circuit. Four Carolina student-athletes represented their home countries internationally, while two more Gamecocks won national titles.
Three Gamecocks were in action July 5-7 at the NACAC U23 Championships in Querétaro, Mexico, as Quincy Hall and Darrell Singleton Jr. represented the United States and Rivaldo Leacock ran for his native Barbados. Leading the way was Hall, who won gold in the 400m hurdles.
Hall won his 400mH preliminary heat with a time of 52.55, setting up an NCAA Championships rematch with Texas Tech’s Norman Grimes in the final. Hall was able to overtake Grimes on the final straightaway to win the collegiate title in Austin last month, and he won the battle again in Querétaro, with his time of 49.77 edging out the 50.07 by Grimes. This is Hall’s second gold medal on the international stage, including his 2017 400mH title at the Pan American U20 Championships in Peru.
Singleton won his first international medal as part of the USA’s 4x100m relay team. The rising senior ran the third leg as the American team stopped the clock in 40.03. He also ran the open 100m, finishing ninth with a mark of 10.63.
Two weeks after finishing second in the 400mH at the Barbados National Championships, Leacock wore his country’s jersey at the NACAC U23 meet. The rising junior ran 52.00 in prelims to earn a spot in the final, and he followed that up with a new personal best in the final, going 51.18 to finish fourth overall.
NCAA Championships qualifier Eric Favors represented Ireland internationally for the first time on Monday, competing in the shot put at the 2019 Summer Universiade in Napoli, Italy. The rising senior finished fifth in his qualifying group, punching a ticket to the finals with a mark of 19.20m (63-0). In the final, Favors placed 10th overall with a mark of 18.94m (62-1 ¾).
Two Gamecocks won national titles in their home nation of Guyana over the weekend competing at the Aliann Pompey Invitational. Arinze Chance won the men’s 400m title, running 46.14 to take the crown. 2019 NCAA champion Aliyah Abrams was the women’s 400m champion with a mark of 52.16 to capture the national title of Guyana for the second-straight year.
Rising sophomore Mathilde Coquillaud-Salomon took part in the French U20 Championships in Angers, France, over the weekend, running the 100m hurdles. Coquillaud-Salomon won her preliminary and semifinal heats before finishing fifth in the final. Her best time came in the semis, a mark of 13.91.
Earlier in the summer, Coquillaud-Salomon ran a season-best 13.68 to win the 100mH at the Regional Championships in Nantes, France. She also won the 400m hurdles title at the French Club Championships in May with a new PR of 1:00.62, and she’s also logged action in the 100 meters, 4x400m relay, high jump and long jump over the summer.
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
The summer season is far from over for the Gamecocks. National championship meets will be held for the United States (July 25-28; Des Moines, Iowa), France (July 26-28; Saint-Etienne, France) and Ireland (July 27-28; Dublin, Ireland), with all athletes eyeing the 2019 IAAF World Championships (Sept. 28 – Oct. 6; Doha, Qatar). Stay tuned to GamecocksOnline.com and @GamecockTrack on Twitter for the latest updates throughout the year.
