Gamecock Men Punch Four More Tickets to Nationals

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 24, 2024) – South Carolina Men’s Track & Field squad secured four more spots into the NCAA Outdoor Championship in Eugene, Ore. in two weeks thanks to a strong quarterfinal performance on Friday in the NCAA East Regional. In all, the Gamecock men punched seven tickets to the upcoming NCAA Outdoor Championship.

Nyck Harbor was able to swipe two tickets to the national championship, doing so in the 100m and the 200m sprints. The star freshman began his quarterfinal day by running a new personal best in the 100m, clocking 10.11 (1.4) to earn a spot in the semifinals in Eugene in two weeks. However, he was not done there. Harbor then turned on the jets in the 200m and bested his previous personal record of 20.36 when he ran a time of 20.20 (0.5) to earn an automatic spot after finishing third in his heat. In addition to his two tickets punched, Harbor’s 200m also marked the second fastest outdoor 200m sprint in Gamecock history.

The other two tickets punched belonged to Channing Ferguson and Anass Essayi. Ferguson, who earned a spot at the national championship yesterday in the long jump, punched his second ticket of the week when he cleared 2.17m (7-1.5) in the men’s high jump to finish fourth overall. Ferguson’s clearance of 2.17m was also the sixth best outdoor high jump in program history. Essayi took care of business in the men’s 1500m race, running 3:38.55 and finishing second in his heat to earn an automatic qualifying spot.

The Gamecock men will be competing in six total events at the NCAA Outdoor Championship under first-year head coach Tim Hall. The male student-athletes that will be competing are: Anass Essayi (1500m) Channing Ferguson (High Jump, Long Jump), Nyck Harbor (100m, 200m) CJ Licata (Shot Put), and Dylan Targgart (Shot Put).

South Carolina will close out the NCAA East Regional tomorrow as the women take the charge. Ella Lucas will start things off for the Garnet & Black at 1 p.m. in the discus, while the women’s 4x100m relay will be the first event on the track for the Gamecocks at 5 p.m.

Men’s Individual Results
100 Meters (Quarterfinals)
10. Nyck Harbor – 10.11q (1.4)*

200 Meters (Quarterfinals)
8. Nyck Harbor – 20.20Q (0.5)*

1500 Meters (Quarterfinals)
2. Anass Essayi – 3:38.55Q
11. Jaouad Khchina – 3:42.32

4×100 Meter Relay (Quarterfinals)
18. Bond, Harbor, Greenhow, Dennis – 39.95

110-Meter Hurdles (Quarterfinals)
17. David Warmington – 13.79 (1.3)

High Jump
4. Channing Ferguson – 2.17m/7-1.5q*
19. Nate Figgers – 2.14m/7-0.25*

Triple Jump
15. Theo Mudzengerere – 15.73m/51-7.25

Women’s Individual Result
Pole Vault
37. Hannah Togami – 3.80m/12-5.5

* – denotes outdoor PR