South Carolina Cruises in Triple Meet Action
COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 18, 2025) – South Carolina Track & Field capped off a busy Friday as the squad was split into three separate meets for this weekend.
The distance squad traveled north of the state line to Winston-Salem, N.C. for the final day of the Wake Forest Invitational and flexed its muscles in the process. Salma Elbadra broke her own 1500-meter school record in the win after running 4:05.85 for the fifth fastest time in NCAA history as well as the second fastest mark in the NCAA East Region this season. Teresa Cherotich joined her in the regional rankings after clocking 10:02.13 in her outdoor season debut in the 3000-meter steeplechase. Cherotich’s time was good enough to finish sixth and was the fifth fastest time in the region this year. Anya Arroyo was the highlight in the 5K, knocking off over one minute from her previous personal best, turning in a time of 16:22.97 for the fifth fastest mark in program history.
In the men’s distance group, it was Jaouad Khchina who turned in the second fastest 1500m time in program history, a placement that he already owned, after clocking 3:40.98 to rank 14th in the region. Fellow teammate, Joshua Kosgei, competed in the open 1500m and ran 3:45.51 to rank sixth in Gamecock history. The final male distance runner to make a dent in the program record book was Elijah Poore in the 3000m steeplechase as he crossed the line in 9:12.10 for a new personal best and the seventh best mark in Gamecock history.
The sprinters, jumpers and pole vaulters made the trip to Waco, Texas to take part in the Michael Johnson Invite, competing in eight events for the opening day. The women’s 200-meter sprinters stole the show, led by none other than JaMeesia Ford who ran her first 200m of the season with a mark of 22.40 (3.3) for the win and the top spot in the East Region. Cynteria James finished third overall in the 200m after racing to a new personal best time of 22.84 (1.5) for the seventh best time in the East Region. Jayla Jamison and Zaya Akins finished fourth and fifth respectively, with Jamison now sitting eighth in the region with a time of 22.97 (3.3) and Akins ranking 12th with a mark of 23.10 (1.5). Cameran Gist jumped a season best distance in the long jump after setting a mark of 6.11m (20-0.5) for the ninth best long jump in program history.
Josue Richardson Salazar and Channing Ferguson highlighted action from the men’s team in Waco. Richardson Salazar clocked a new personal best time in the 400-meter hurdles, running 51.47 to rank 25th in the regional standings. Meanwhile, Ferguson secured a new season best in the long jump and now ranks sixth in the East Region after jumping 7.74m (25-4.75).
The male throwers rounded out the competition on Good Friday by competing in the Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Fla. CJ Licata posted a runner-up finish in the shot put after launching one 20.23m (66-4.5). Teammate, Dylan Targgart, threw 19.22m (63-0.75) to place sixth overall. Ellis Neighbors was the lone javelin thrower and was able to finish ninth in the standings after throwing 59.81m (196-2).
South Carolina will close out the final day of the Michael Johnson Invite tomorrow, concluding a busy weekend for the Garnet & Black. The first event will be the women’s triple jump at 1 p.m. (ET), while the meet will conclude with the women’s 4x400m relay at 5:55 p.m. (ET) and the men’s 4x400m relay at 6:05 p.m. (ET).
Michael Johnson Invite
Men’s Individual Results
200 Meters
49. Antwan Hughes Jr. – 21.70 (3.1)*
77. David Warmington – 22.41 (3.1)
400-Meter Hurdles
5. Josue Richardson Salazar – 51.47*
Long Jump
5. Channing Ferguson – 7.74m/25-4.75 (3.5)
13. Nate Figgers – 7.15m/23-5.5 (3.9)*
Pole Vault
7. Parker Samuelson – 5.07m/16-7.5*
— Conor Reilly – NH
Women’s Individual Results
200 Meters
1. JaMeesia Ford – 22.40 (3.3)
3. Cynteria James – 22.84 (1.5)*
4. Jayla Jamison – 22.97 (3.3)
5. Zaya Akins – 23.10 (1.5)*
62. Kennedy Flynn – 25.34 (2.3)*
400-Meter Hurdles
8. Joslyn Hamilton – 1:00.30
Long Jump
5. Cameran Gist – 6.11m/20-0.5 (1.6)
Pole Vault
9. Hannah Togami – 4.02m/13-2.25
12. Emma Stone – 3.87m/12-8.25*
— Lena Richardson – NH
Wake Forest Invitational
Men’s Individual Results
800 Meters
9. Aidan Hatton – 1:50.52
24. Ricky Circelli – 1:52.20
31. Noah Contreras – 1:52.78
1500 Meters (Invite)
12. Jaouad Khchina – 3:40.98*
43. Rogerio Amaral – 3:46.39
1500 Meters
12. Joshua Kosgei – 3:45.51*
49. Carlos Lanzagorta-Ruiz – 3:56.76
3000-Meter Steeplechase
12. Elijah Poore – 9:12.10*
Women’s Individual Results
800 Meters (Invite)
11. Sylvia Chelangat – 2:05.99
800 Meters
26. Sinead Joyce – 2:11.48
1500 Meters (Invite)
1. Salma Elbadra – 4:05.85*
1500 Meters
7. Abigail White – 4:26.13
25. Hattie Jennings – 4:31.96*
39. Mary Frances Iseman – 4:35.98*
5000 Meters
19. Anya Arroyo – 16:22.97*
20. Cate Conklin – 16:23.46
33. Emma Torbert – 16:39.00
3000-Meter Steeplechase (Invite)
6. Teresa Cherotich – 10:02.13
Tom Jones Memorial
Men’s Individual Results
Shot Put
2. CJ Licata – 20.23m/66-4.5
6. Dylan Targgart – 19.22m/63-0.75
Javelin
9. Ellis Neighbors – 59.81m/196-2
* – denotes outdoor PR
