Gamecock Women Secure Four Finals Appearances
EUGENE, Ore. (June 6, 2024) – South Carolina Women’s Track & Field team began its competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championship on Thursday, competing in seven events and advancing to the finals in three of the seven.
The 4x100m and 4x400m relays cruised to finals appearances, earning automatic qualifying spots into the finals. The women’s 4x100m relay of Jayla Jamison, Cynteria James, Zaya Akins and JaMeesia Ford kicked things off with a time of 42.66 to finish second in the second heat, earning the automatic spot into Saturday’s finale. The 4x400m relay team of Akins, Jamison, Sylvia Chelangat and Ford closed the night with a win in the opening heat, running 3:27.10. Akins opened with a split of 53.26, followed by Jamison with a time of 52.13. Chelangat kept Carolina in the hunt with a 52 second flat third leg to hand the baton off the indoor 200m champion, Ford. The North Carolina native brought Carolina from fourth to first in the opening heat after a 49.72 final 400m split.
See you on Saturday 😎🤙 pic.twitter.com/zXnK3MsY0Z
— Gamecock Track & XC (@GamecockTrack) June 7, 2024
Individually, Ford and Jamison both reached the 200m finals after strong showings in the semifinal round. Ford won the second heat with an overall time of 22.14 (1.2), just shy of her personal best of 22.11. Jamison joined the talented freshman as an automatic qualifier after she ran a new personal best time of 22.35 (1.1) to finish second in the opening heat and fourth overall. In addition, Jamison’s time moved her into second all-time in Gamecock outdoor history.
Doing what she has done all season…Ford wins her heat in dominating fashion with a time of 22.14 and she will be one to watch on Saturday 🤙 pic.twitter.com/s4Jf99p541
— Gamecock Track & XC (@GamecockTrack) June 7, 2024
JAYLA JAMISON!! Veteran sprinter runs the second fastest 200m (22.35) in program history to earn her spot in the finals on Saturday 🤙 pic.twitter.com/VmG1Awloxt
— Gamecock Track & XC (@GamecockTrack) June 7, 2024
The Gamecocks also saw five individuals earn Honorable Mention All-American honors: Zaya Akins (400m), Sylvia Chelangat (800m), Teresa Cherotich (Steeplechase), Cynteria James (200m) and Judy Kosgei (1500m).
The men’s team will close out their portion of the NCAA Outdoor Championship tomorrow as Channing Ferguson competes in the high jump at 8:30 p.m. (ET), followed by Anass Essayi in the 1500m final at 9:12 p.m. (ET).
Women’s Standings
1. Florida – 26
2. Nebraska – 22
3. Oregon – 15
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— South Carolina – 0
Women’s Individual Results
200 Meters (Semifinals)
2. JaMeesia Ford – 22.14Q (1.2)
4. Jayla Jamison – 22.35Q (1.1)*
24. Cynteria James – 23.47 (0.3)
400 Meters (Semifinals)
20. Zaya Akins – 52.36
800 Meters (Semifinals)
20. Sylvia Chelangat – 2:04.50
1500 Meters (Semifinals)
19. Judy Kosgei – 4:14.97
4×100 Meter Relay (Semifinals)
4. Jamison, James, Akins, Ford – 42.66Q
4×400 Meter Relay (Semifinals)
2. Akins, Jamison, Chelangat, Ford – 3:27.10Q
3000 Meter Steeplechase (Semifinals)
18. Teresa Cherotich – 10:06.10
* – denotes outdoor PR
