Track and Field . December 2, 2022

Carolina Claims Seven Victories at Clemson Opener

Results

CLEMSON, S.C. (Dec. 2, 2022) – It was a strong start to the indoor season for South Carolina Track & Field, collecting seven event victories in the Clemson Opener on Friday in Clemson, S.C.

“Our goal was to fight today, and we did that today on both sides,” stated head coach Curtis Frye. “Aalliyah running 36.83 is phenomenal for her first meet and is one of the top 300 times in school history by a Carolina female. I was also pleased with Evan Miller and how he has trained hard and is dedicated. He has to lead by performance, and not necessarily by his voice, and he did that today. He set forth the effort that our kids need to stay fit and ready to run over the holidays by his example today. I was pleased with all our captains and our leaders today.”

There were five wins on the women’s team, including the always coveted 4×400 meter relay. The team of Angel Frank, Aalliyah Francis, Jahnile Registre and Alysia Johnson snatched the podium with a time of 3:39.89, 10 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.

Newcomers Aalliyah Francis (Jamaica) and Elena Kelety (Germany) left their marks in the season-opening meet with Francis cruising to a 300 meter victory following a time of 36.83, while Kelety captured the 400 meter triumph after stopping the clock at 55.20. Frank finished third in the 300m following a time of 38.84, a new personal record for the All-American.

Jahnile Registre and Mia Joseph earned the other two victories for the Gamecocks on the women’s team, both picking up new personal records in their respective events. Registre captured the 800-meter win with a mark of 2:13.03, while Joseph cleared 3.50m (11-05.75) in the pole vault on her first attempt. Rachel Valentine also cleared 3.50m but finished third due to it being on her third attempt.

Distance runners Alex Costantino and Grace Zamrowski jumped into the record books for the 1,000-meter race after securing the third and fourth-fastest times in program history. Costantino turned in a runner-up finish and jumped into third in the record books following a time of 2:52.81, while her counterpart Zamrowski finished sixth with the fourth-fastest time in South Carolina history at 2:54.38.

Carolina also pushed two runners through to the finals today as Anastasia Sumpter finished fifth in the 60m sprint with a time of 7.52 and Danielle Varrasso placed sixth in the 60m hurdles with a time of 9.37 in her Carolina debut.

On the men’s side there were two victories, both by new Gamecocks, and three different program Top-10 marks following today’s action. Freshman runner Jayson Ward outlasted his competitors in the 400m, making it a clean sweep for Carolina, running in a time of 48.19.

Northern Iowa transfer Blair Brooks secured the victory in the long jump when he reached 7.26m (23-10), the 10^th-longest jump in Carolina history. Teammate Elisha Brooks finished third after jumping 7.07m/23-02.5.

The Gamecocks had five runner-up finishes in today’s meet, including Evan Miller in the 300m race after beating the facility record (previously 32.80) with a time of 32.54. Miller was edged by Clemson’s Wanya McCoy (32.53). William Spencer, Jr. (33.78) and Jackson Junkins (33.86) finished third and fourth, respectively.

Filip Demsar captured second in the 60mH after clocking 7.89, while Dillon McCarthy finished runner-up in the pole vault with a mark of 4.65m/15-3.0. The men’s 4x400m relay squad also placed second as Miller, Ward, EJ Richardson and Spencer clocked 3:12.46.

The final runner-up finish belonged to Aidan Hatton in the 1000m run after posting a time of 2:27.54, the third fastest 1000m race in program history. Fellow teammate Jack Mensch scored the sixth fastest 1000m time in school history with 2:28.61, finishing third overall in today’s race.

“This was a great start to the year and it was nice to be able to compete against people other than ourselves,” added Coach Frye. “We are looking forward to a great year and a strong finish in the classroom this semester.”

The Gamecocks will return to action in January 2023. The full schedule will be released at a later time.

Men’s Individual Results
60 Meters (Prelims)
-. Prescott Jefferson – FS

200 Meters
3. Prescott Jefferson – 21.95*

300 Meters
2. Evan Miller – 32.54*
3. William Spencer, Jr. – 33.78*
4. Jackson Junkins – 33.86*

400 Meters
1. Jayson Ward – 48.19*
7. E.J. Richardson – 49.74

600 Meters
8. Jacob Mangione – 1:21.81*

1000 Meters
2. Aidan Hatton – 2:27.54*
3. Jack Mensch – 2:28.61*
5. William Wright – 2:31.21*

3000 Meters
16. Henry Wood – 9:06.91*

60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
3. Filip Demsar – 7.87Q
5. Elisha Brooks – 8.21q

60-Meter Hurdles (Finals)
2. Filip Demsar – 7.89
4. Elisha Brooks – 8.29

4×400-Meter Relay
2. Miller, Ward, Richardson, Spencer Jr. – 3:12.46
4. Junkins, Demsar, Mangione, Wright – 3:20.56

Long Jump
1. Blair Brooks – 7.26m/23-10
3. Elisha Brooks – 7.07m/23-02.5