Gamecocks Battle Weather in Opening Day of Weems Baskin Invitational

COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 22, 2024) – South Carolina Track & Field kicked off the home outdoor season on Friday afternoon after hosting the opening day of the Weems Baskin Invitational at Sheila & Morris Cregger Track. Friday featured a pair of wins for the Gamecocks as South Carolina battled both the field and the elements.

Gabriella Gait-Smith picked up the lone win for the women’s team after running 17:28.98 in the 5,000 meter event. Gait-Smith’s time was good enough to rank 16th in the East Region thus far in the season. Gait-Smith was followed by Hope Dominique who finished second after running 17:43.78 and Anya Arroyo who rounded out the top three with a personal best time of 17:44.14.

Ally Wilson finished bronze in the 1,500 meter race after clocking a new personal best time of 4:35.03. The Gamecock women also saw a pair of freshmen rise in the rankings as Macey Dowe and Hailey Sharkey climbed inside the Top-10 all-time in program history for the javelin. Dowe finished fifth overall after throwing 37.98m (124-7), while Sharkey threw 36.69m (120-4). The pair of freshman now rank 9th and 10th, respectively.

The men competed in just four events on the day with Channing Ferguson and Nate Figgers highlighting the competition. The pair of high jumpers each cleared 2.11m (6-11), with Ferguson walking away as the victor after clearing in fewer attempts. Ferguson now ranks ninth in the East Region, while Figgers sits sixth overall after he cleared 2.14m in last week’s outdoor opener.

The Gamecocks will close out the 2024 Weems Baskin Invitational tomorrow with field events starting at 10 a.m. and track events starting at 11 a.m.

Men’s Individual Results
800 Meters
5. Carlos Lanzagorta-Ruiz – 1:55.39*
6. Jackson Dawson – 1:55.77*

High Jump
1. Channing Ferguson – 2.11m/6-11
2. Nate Figgers – 2.11m/6-11

Javelin
4. Luke Schuller – 56.02m/183-9*

Hammer Throw
5. Ridge Dowe – 51.55m/169-1

Women’s Individual Results
800 Meters
5. Sofie Kurzawa – 2:18.50*
7. Greta White – 2:23.90*

1500 Meters
3. Ally Wilson – 4:35.03*
5. Emily Pierontoni – 4:43.00
10. Brooke Donoghue – 4:50.56
12. Claudia Satzke – 4:52.06*

5000 Meters
1. Gabriella Gait-Smith – 17:28.98
2. Hope Dominique – 17:43.78
3. Anya Arroyo – 17:44.14*
7. Maria Lombardi – 18:03.77*
10. Emma Torbert – 18:07.69*
11. Caitlin Gemmill – 18:31.55*
13. Katerina Hendrix – 19:02.84
— Anna Boyd – DNF
— Sofie Kurzawa – DNF
— Emily Pierontoni – DNF
— Greta White – DNF
— Ella Zeigler – DNF

3000 Meter Steeplechase
— Claudia Satzke – DNF

High Jump
19. Markia Anderson – 1.41m/4-7.5

Javelin
5. Macey Dowe – 37.98m/124-7*
6. Hailey Sharkey – 36.69m/120-4*
11. Sienna Lydon – 33.72m/110-7*

* – denotes outdoor PR