Carolina Flies Out of the Gates at Tiger Paw Invite

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Among some of the most talented teams in the country, the University of South Carolina track and field team made huge leaps on the national scene on the first day of the Tiger Paw Invitational, picking up one victory and four NCAA top 15 performances.

“We’re happy to come out and have another healthy meet today, and had some great performancesfry highlighted by Eric Favors in the Shot Put,” South Carolina head coach Curtis Frye said. “Our team competed and everyone got a good run in the quarter mile. Quincy [Hall] had a good, not great, run to start his open 400-meter season. All of our guys had good runs today. Our women’s 400m runners saw Aliyah [Abrams] get a good start. Stephanie [Davis] had a big personal best. It’s great to see her move up the standings where we know she can be.” 
 
Carolina combined to post 13 personal bests on Friday, with Heather Stone picking up Carolina’s win and moving to No. 6 on the South Carolina indoor 5000m list. It was Stone’s first 5000m race this season and is the third 5000m time this season that has cracked the top 10 (Anna Kathryn Stoddard, Hannah Twine).

“It is great to see our team improve each and every week,” Frye added. “Our distance crew has done a great job this season at consistently improving in almost all areas. It’s part of the process, we win when we have personal bests!” 
 
Senior Eric Favors waited until his final throw of the men’s shot put to toss another personal best to finish in fourth of the highly competitive event. Favors mark of 19.49m (63-11 1/2) gives him a new personal best in each of the last two meets. Favors mark moves him up into a tie for 15th in the country this season and is also a new Irish indoor national record. 
 
Both Stephanie Davis and Aliyah Abrams made noise in the women’s 400m open. For Davis, her 52.60 was good enough for not only an eighth-place finish at the meet but also the eighth fastest time in the country this season. Abrams’ debut in the open 400m slotted her in the top 15 in the country, her 53.04 helped her finish in 11th at the meet.
 
On the men’s side of the 400m open it was senior Quincy Hall who made his season debut. In just his second race of the season Hall was able to post a top 10 time in the country and finished in fifth overall. Senior Arinze Chance finished in seventh and improved his season-best time to 46.75. Freshman William Spencer Jr. also matched Chance, posting his own season-best time of 47.33 and his fastest time since December.
 
Although Stephon Torrence was unable to improve on his personal best, he posted last week at the South Carolina Invitational, he was able to make the final of the 60m hurdles in a talented field. Torrence ultimately finished in eighth and posted his best time (7.83) in the semifinal.
 
Some other notable personal best on the opening day of the Tiger Paw Invitational were Malik Paul (20.03m in the weigh throw), Hillary Neely (5:07.78 in the mile run), and Sean Petersen (4:16.99 in the mile run).
 
The Gamecocks will return home for the USC Indoor Open, the final meet of the regular season. The one-day meet is set for Feb. 22 at the Carolina Indoor Track and Field Complex. For a full look at the entire 2020 campaign visit the schedule page or click here.
 
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