Pair of Gamecocks Secure SEC Weekly Honors

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Feb. 13, 2024) – South Carolina Track & Field captured a pair of SEC Runner of the Week honors, as announced by the league office on Tuesday afternoon.

Anass Essayi earned SEC Men’s Co-Runner of the Week for his performance in Boston over the weekend. Essayi ran his first mile race of the season on Saturday at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, finishing second overall and as the top overall collegian. The Morocco native clocked a time of 3:51.91 to lead the SEC in mile time as well as ranking third in the NCAA leaderboard heading into the weekend. Essayi now ranks fourth all-time in USTFCCCA history in the men’s indoor mile.

JaMeesia Ford laid claim to her fourth SEC Women’s Freshman of the Week honors, sharing the award with Doris Lemngole of Alabama. Ford began her weekend with a personal best time in the 400m on Friday, clocking 51.33 to place first at the Tiger Paw Invite. Ford’s time of 51.33 ranks third in the NCAA leaderboard. In the 200m, she clocked a program record time and NCAA-leading time of 22.36, breaking the facility record and setting a new U20 world indoor record for the fastest indoor 200m on a short track. Ford also became the fourth fastest collegiate 200m runner in USTFCCCA history.

The Gamecocks will conclude the indoor regular season on Saturday when they play host to the USC Indoor Open before turning their attention to the SEC Indoor Championship next weekend in Arkansas.