Gamecocks Capture Five First Team All-American Honors in Final Day of NCAA Championship
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (March 11, 2023) – The 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships have come to a close at the Albuquerque Convention Center. In the final day of competition, South Carolina had five student-athletes competing and each one successfully walked away with First Team All-American honors.
“I was pleased with how the team fought to the end in a very difficult meet,” stated Head Coach Curtis Frye. “There is a lot of pride that comes with being able to call yourself an All-American. Today, we were able to secure five First Team All-Americans and that is a testament to the hard work that these student-athletes put in during the season. We have room to grow and I expect us to be competitive in the outdoor season, starting in the Bahamas next weekend.”
Morocco native Anass Essayi secured his first collegiate All-American recognition in the men’s mile after earning bronze medalist honors. The sophomore distance runner posted a time of 4:03.61 to claim First Team All-American honors and to secure six points for the Gamecocks in the team standings. The third-place finish for Essayi is his third Top-3 finish in three races in the men’s indoor mile this season.
The women’s 4×400 meter relay team delivered as they always do with the spotlight on, running a season-best time of 3:30.09 for the ninth-fastest indoor time in program history. Angel Frank, Aalliyah Francis, Alysia Johnson and Jahnile Registre finished seventh overall in the relay, securing two points for the Gamecocks and four First Team All-American honors.
Frank, earning her first indoor All-American medal, jumped out to the lead following a 53.60 first leg. Frank then handed the baton off to Francis as the Jamaica newcomer ran the fastest of the four legs with a time of 52.14 to aid herself in capturing her first indoor All-American status. Johnson, securing her second consecutive indoor First Team All-American honor, posted a third split of 52.17 to set up the final leg for the Gamecocks. The final leg belonged to Registre, running 52.19 to secure points for the Gamecocks and her first indoor All-American nod.
With the indoor season behind them, the Gamecocks will now turn their attention to the 2023 outdoor campaign. South Carolina will open the outdoor season in international waters, competing in the inaugural Island Relays Bahamas on Friday, March 17 and concluding on Saturday, March 18.
Men’s Team Standings
1. Arkansas – 63
2. Georgia – 38
3. Florida – 33
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T36. South Carolina – 6
Men’s Individual Results
1-Mile (Finals)
3. Anass Essayi – 4:03.61
Women’s Team Standings
1. Arkansas – 64
2. Texas – 60
3. Florida – 45
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T43. South Carolina – 2
Women’s Individual Results
4×400 Meter Relays (Finals)
7. Frank, Francis, Johnson, Registre – 3:30.09
