Essayi Advances to NCAA Finals; Trio of Gamecocks Secure Second Team All-American Honors

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (March 10, 2023) – Anass Essayi claimed a spot in the men’s mile finals, while three different Gamecocks took home Second Team All-American honors in the opening day of the NCAA Indoor Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, N.M.

Needing to finish top four in his heat in the mile prelims to advance, Essayi did just that. The Morocco native cruised to a time of 4:09.59 in the prelims, finishing fourth in his heat and punching his spot into the mile finals tomorrow night.

Fellow Gamecock Evan Miller competed in the men’s 400-meter sprint and captured 13th overall after clocking a time of 46.06. Miller’s placement secured his third consecutive indoor All-American honor, this time earning a spot on the Second Team in the 400m for the first time in his illustrious career.

Silan Ayyildiz and Jayla Jamison were the lone female competitors for the Gamecocks today. Ayyildiz was the first Carolina student-athlete on the track, earning Second Team All-American honors in the women’s mile after placing 14th with a time of 4:43.65. Jamison competed in both the women’s 60-meter race and the women’s 200m. The Columbia, S.C. native picked up a pair of Second Team All-American nods after finishing 15th in the 200m (23.13) and 16th in the 60m (7.27). These are the first All-American honors for both Ayyildiz and Jamison.

South Carolina will close out the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championship tomorrow afternoon beginning with the women’s 4x400m relay at 5:20 p.m. (MST). Essayi will also compete in a pair of finals tomorrow, running in the mile at 7 p.m. (MST) and the 3,000m at 8 p.m. (MST).

Men’s Individual Results
400 Meters (Prelims)
13. Evan Miller – 46.06

1-Mile (Prelims)
11. Anass Essayi – 4:09.59Q

Women’s Individual Results
60 Meters (Prelims)
16. Jayla Jamison – 7.27

200 Meters (Prelims)
15. Jayla Jamison – 23.13

1-Mile (Prelims)
14. Silan Ayyildiz – 4:43.65