Gamecock Track & Field Primed for Three-Meet Weekend
COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 16, 2025) – Gamecock Track & Field is set to compete in three separate meets this weekend in Florida, North Carolina and Texas. The throwers will head to the Tom Jones Invitational (April 18) in Gainesville, Fla., while the distance squad will travel to the Wake Forest Invitational (April 18) in Winston-Salem, N.C. and the sprinters, jumpers and pole vaulters will make the trek to the Michael Johnson Invitational (April 18-19) in Waco, Texas.
Follow the Meet
For live results this weekend, please click on the following links: Tom Jones Invitational, Wake Forest Invitational, Michael Johnson Invitational. Fans are strongly encouraged to follow along with updates on X (Twitter) by following @GamecockTrack.
Meet Information
Tom Jones Invitational
The Gamecocks will send just four throwers to Gainesville, Fla. for the Tom Jones Invitational. Jalen Barry and Ellis Neighbors will compete in the javelin on Friday at 3:45 p.m., while CJ Licata and Dylan Targgart will take part in the shot put invite at 6:30 p.m.
Wake Forest Invitational
South Carolina’s distance group will be represented by 18 athletes at Wake Forest. Elijah Poore will kick things off in Winston-Salem at 12:05 p.m. on Friday with the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase. The Gamecocks will also be competing in the men’s and women’s 800m, men’s and women’s 1500m, men’s and women’s steeplechase and the women’s 5,000 meter. The final event of the competition for South Carolina on Friday will be the women’s 5K beginning with section one at 8:15 p.m. and section two at 8:49 p.m.
Michael Johnson Invitational
The Gamecocks will send 21 athletes to Waco, Texas for the Michael Johnson Invitational that will begin on Friday, April 18 and conclude on Saturday, April 19. The first event that South Carolina will compete in on Friday will be the men’s pole vault at 1 p.m., while the first running event will be the women’s 200m at 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s festivities in Waco will begin with triple jump at 1 p.m. and ending with the coveted 4×400 meter relays at 5:55 p.m. (women), and 6:05 p.m. (men). The Gamecocks will square off against 24 additional teams including Baylor, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
Moving Up
South Carolina had a strong showing over the weekend in the home finale at the Gamecock Invite, winning 15 overall events. The weekend propelled the women’s team to a 4th-place ranking in the latest USTFCCCA Top 25, the sixth time that the Gamecocks have been ranked inside the Top 10 during Head Coach Tim Hall’s tenure. Meanwhile, the men’s squad jumped 19 spots into 15th overall, the best ranking since May 28, 2019.
SEC Recognition
JaMeesia Ford and Josiah Wrice captured SEC recognition on Tuesday afternoon, with Ford earning SEC Women’s Runner of the Week and Wrice claiming SEC Men’s Freshman of the Week. Ford was able to garner the award after winning the 100m with a wind-legal world leading time of 11.06 (1.4) and then was part of the 4×100 meter relay that clocked 43.37 for the seventh fastest time in the NCAA this season. Wrice opened the Gamecock Invite with a win in the 4x100m relay after running 39.83 and then later finished runner-up in the 400m after crossing the line at 46.02 for the eighth fastest time in program history and the 11th best mark in the East Region this year.
