Gamecock Women Win Pair of NCAA Indoor Titles
BOSTON, Mass. (March 9, 2024) – South Carolina Track & Field took a strong step toward its former glory, winning a pair of NCAA Indoor titles on the women’s side to finish 12th overall, while the men secured No. 24 at the national championship meet. This was the highest team finish for both squads since the 2019 season.
Freshman phenom, JaMeesia Ford, brought home South Carolina’s first gold medal of the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championship after winning the 200m sprint. Ford competed in the second heat and ran a new program record and personal best time of 22.34 for the crown. The fastest U20 runner in history stamped her name as the best 200m sprinter in the country, winning Carolina’s first 200m gold medal since Shalonda Solomon in 2006.
The women’s 4x400m relay team closed out the NCAA Indoor Championship with a bang after what appeared to be a runner-up finish. Arkansas with the gold in hand was disqualified following a lane infraction, passing the win to the Gamecocks for the first 4x400m indoor crown since 2019. The defending SEC Indoor Champions got things started with Zaya Akins running the opening 400m in a time of 52.43. Akins passed the baton to the steady feet of Jahnile Registre who posted a time of 51.55 in the second leg. Jayla Jamison recorded a time of 51.50 for the third leg of the winning relay squad. Like she has done all season, Ford brought the relay team home with a 400m split of 50.74, just 30 minutes after running her 200m final. The quartet of Gamecocks were named to the First Team All-American squad, with Ford taking home a pair of First Team honors following her win in the 200m sprint.
The Gamecock men picked up 10 combined points in the men’s shot put and men’s 200m events on Saturday’s finale. Dylan Targgart, making his first NCAA Indoor Championship appearance, jumped into the top five on his first throw when he tossed 19.49m. On his second attempt, Targgart launched 19.88m to jump into third place and held that position for the remainder of the competition. The Michigan native’s best throw was on his fifth attempt when he tossed 19.95m (65-5.5). Targgart secured third place and a spot on the First Team All-American squad, in addition to the first six points for the Garnet & Black. Targgart’s finish represented the first Gamecock scorer in the shot put since Josh Awotunde finished third in 2018.
Anthony Greenhow picked up four more points for Carolina to bring the team total to 10 after placing fifth in the 200m sprint. The veteran runner clocked 20.84 in his first NCAA Indoor Championship appearance to mark the Gamecock’s highest 200m indoor finish at the NCAA Championship since Ncincilili Titi finished fifth in 2018. Greenhow earned First Team All-American honors for his finish in the 200m dash.
Anass Essayi and Theo Mudzengerere collected Second Team All-American honors in their respective events on Saturday. Essayi placed 10th in the 3,000 meter with a time of 7:54.67, while Mudzengerere finished 14th in the triple jump with a distance of 15.33m (50-3.5).
South Carolina will now turn its attention to the outdoor campaign as the Gamecocks head to Myrtle Beach next weekend. The Garnet & Black will be competing in the Alan Connie Shamrock Invitational from Thursday, March 14 – Saturday, March 16.
Men’s Team Standings
1. Texas Tech – 50.5
2. Arkansas – 41
3. Florida – 39
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24. South Carolina – 10
Men’s Individual Results
200 Meters (Finals)
5. Anthony Greenhow – 20.84
3,000 Meters
10. Anass Essayi – 7:54.67
Triple Jump
14. Theo Mudzengerere – 15.33m/50-3.5
Shot Put
3. Dylan Targgart – 19.95m/65-5.5
Women’s Team Standings
1. Arkansas – 55
2. Florida – 50
3. Georgia – 33
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12. South Carolina – 20
Women’s Individual Results
200 Meters (Finals)
1. JaMeesia Ford – 22.34*
4×400 Meter Relay
1. Akins, Registre, Jamison, Ford – 3:26.20
* – denotes indoor PR
