Amaral Snatches Bronze in Opening Day of SEC Outdoor Championships

BATON ROUGE, La. (May 11, 2023) – South Carolina Track & Field opened the 2023 SEC Outdoor Championship on Thursday afternoon, competing in eight overall events.

Rogerio Amaral did something for Gamecock Track & Field that has not happened since 1994, score in the SEC Outdoor 10,000 meter. The Portugal native became the first Gamecock since Mark Cruz and just the third Gamecock in program history to capture points in the 10K, finishing with a bronze medal and securing six points after running 30:15.90. In addition to capturing six points, Amaral earns a spot on the Second Team All-SEC for the first time in his career. Amaral’s time is also the third fastest 10K in Gamecock history.

Sylvia Chelangat highlighted the women’s competition, finishing second overall and winning her heat in the 800m after stopping the clock at 2:04.24 to stamp her spot into the finals on Saturday.

“I cannot express how proud I am of both Rogerio and Sylvia today,” stated Head Coach Curtis Frye. “Rogerio accomplished something that has not been done in nearly 30 years in Gamecock history. To score at the SEC Championship is such a huge accomplishment, and to do it in the 10K requires a lot of patience and poise. Sylvia also ran with a purpose today in the 800 and you can tell she had fun. To watch her smile as she crossed that finish line, that is something that a coach doesn’t forget. She went out today and competed, had fun, and she won her heat to qualify for the finals on Saturday. I am excited for the rest of the weekend. We have a busy day tomorrow, so we are going to get our rest and come back and give it our all.”

South Carolina is back in action tomorrow in day two of the SEC Outdoor Championships. The Gamecocks will not have a competitor until women’s pole vault at 4 p.m. (CT).

Men’s Team Standings
1. Georgia – 18
2. Alabama – 17
3. Ole Miss – 14
—
9. South Carolina – 6

Men’s Individual Results
200 Meters (Prelims)
16. Anthony Greenhow – 20.98 (-1.4)
23. Emory Floyd – 21.33 (-1.2)*
29. Jackson Junkins – 21.75 (2.3)
31. Gatlin Lawson – 22.31 (-1.2)

800 Meters (Prelims)
23. Aidan Hatton – 1:50.95*
33. Will Wright – 1:56.79

10,000 Meters (Finals)
3. Rogerio Amaral – 30:15.90*

Hammer Throw
17. Ridge Dowe – 53.78m/176-5*

Women’s Team Standings
1. Missouri – 22
2. Arkansas – 21
3. Ole Miss – 20
—
— South Carolina – 0

Women’s Individual Results
200 Meters (Prelims)
15. Jayla Jamison – 23.19 (-0.2)
43. Anastasia Sumpter – 24.88 (0.0)*

800 Meters (Prelims)
2. Sylvia Chelangat – 2:04.24Q
21. Kieley Gayle – 2:11.28

400-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
14. Elena Kelety – 58.19*

Hammer Throw
12. KD Young – 58.19m/190-11
19. Cailyn Scharneck – 48.30m/158-5

* – denotes outdoor PR