Trio of Gamecocks Earn Weekly Awards
COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 26, 2024) – South Carolina Track & Field is off to the races as we enter the third week of the outdoor season. Coming off a dominating showing at the Weems Baskin Invitational, a trio of Gamecocks earned weekly honors for their performances. Freshmen JaMeesia Ford and Nyck Harbor swept the SEC Freshmen of the Week awards, while fellow freshman Cynteria James was named USTFCCCA Division I National Athlete of the Week.
James opened the meet with a then wind-aided personal best 11.32w (3.1) in the preliminary round of the 100 meter sprint, holding the top spot heading into the finals. James then blew through the competition after running the fastest 100m time in program history, while also setting a new world lead and new facility record. James clocked a wind-legal 11.01 (1.7) in the 100m finals for the win, setting her new collegiate personal best. In addition, James’ 100m time is the fastest 100m in the NCAA this season.
Ford claimed her fifth SEC Women’s Freshman of the Week honor, combining with the four that she won during the indoor season. Ford turned in the fastest 400m time this season in both the NCAA and the SEC after running 51.16 at the Weems Baskin Invitational on Saturday. Ford’s time was good enough to finish 1st overall and set a new Sheila & Morris Cregger Track facility record. The two-time indoor national champion then opened the women’s 4x400m relay and guided the squad to a first-place finish with a time of 3:34.80 – good enough for ninth in the NCAA this season.
Harbor took home a pair of wins for the Gamecocks at the Weems Baskin Invitational in the 100m and 4×100. Harbor opened the day on Saturday as the anchor leg of the men’s 4x100m relay that now ranks 12th in the NCAA. The Washington, D.C. native brought home the gold in the event as the quartet clocked 40.20 overall to win the race. Harbor then competed in the 100m prelims where he was second overall with a personal best time of 10.16, good enough for fifth all-time in program history and fourth in the NCAA. Harbor then won the 100m finals later in the afternoon by running 10.24 (0.9), finishing just ahead of teammate Anthony Greenhow (10.28).
The Gamecocks are back in action this weekend when the team heads down to Gainesville, Fla. to compete in the 2024 Pepsi Florida Relays on Friday, March 29 and Saturday, March 30.
