South Carolina Dominates in Opening Day of Charlotte Invitational
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 25, 2025) – The opening day of the Charlotte Invitational yielded strong results for South Carolina Track & Field. The Gamecocks competed in just seven events overall, winning five of those seven races. In addition, South Carolina is competing in its first scored meet of the outdoor season and sits first in the women’s standing with 61 points and second on the men’s leaderboard with 40 points.
The women’s distance squad took part in four events, walking away with a trio of victories. Elle Mehltretter kicked things off for the women in the open 5,000-meter race, turning in a win with the time of 18:03.08 for 10 points. Salma Elbadra was the second female distance runner to win her event on Friday night, doing so in the 800-meter invite for another 10 points for the Garnet & Black. The star runner from Morocco clocked a new personal best time of 2:03.09 for the fourth fastest time in program history and 11th overall in the region.
The final win for the women on Friday night belonged to Teresa Cherotich in the invitational section of the 5K. The Kenya product turned in a season best time of 16:28.45 for the win in her 5K debut, resulting in another 10 points. Abigail White clocked a new personal best time in the 1500m Invite, crossing the finish line in 4:25.50 to advance to fourth all-time in program history. Her mark allowed her to secure bronze in the event with six points.
The men’s team appeared in just three meets on Friday, winning a pair of distance races. Jaouad Khchina was the first to claim a victory in the 1500m invite, improving on his personal best time and the second best time in program history after he stopped the clock at 3:39.12. In addition, Khchina’s time now ranks 12th in the East Regional.
The other win for the Gamecock men’s team came from Rogerio Amaral in the final event of the night, doing so in the invitational section of the 5K. Amaral was able to turn in a time of 13:54.21 for the win and 10 additional points to the Gamecocks’ total.
South Carolina will close out the 2025 Charlotte Invitational with a slew of events tomorrow, beginning with three field events at 11 a.m. The first track event for South Carolina will be the men’s 4×100 meter relay at noon.
Men’s Standings
1. Charlotte – 49
2. South Carolina – 40
T3. East Carolina – 28
T3. Furman – 28
Men’s Individual Results
800 Meters (Invite)
2. Joshua Kosgei – 1:50.20
3. Aidan Hatton – 1:50.30
8. Ethan Mathis – 1:51.85*
9. Logan Hill – 1:52.11
10. Ricky Circelli – 1:52.14
1500 Meters (Invite)
1. Jaouad Khchina – 3:39.12*
9. Noah Contreras – 3:49.72*
11. Carlos Lanzagorta-Ruiz – 3:50.09*
12. Marcellus Mines – 3:50.20*
5000 Meters (Invite)
1. Rogerio Amaral – 13:54.21
8. Sam Kolowith – 14:31.91*
— Jaouad Khchina – DNF
Women’s Standings
1. South Carolina – 61
2. Elon – 36
3. Charlotte – 31
Women’s Individual Results
800 Meters (Invite)
1. Salma Elbadra – 2:03.09*
9. Sofie Kurzawa – 2:12.53*
— Abigail White – DNF
1500 Meters (Invite)
3. Abigail White – 4:25.50*
8. Anya Arroyo – 4:30.30*
12. Emma Torbert – 4:33.07*
5000 Meters (Invite)
1. Teresa Cherotich – 16:28.45
5. Hattie Jennings – 17:05.73*
6. Ella Zeigler – 17:07.34*
12. Mary Frances Iseman – 17:31.61
13. Lily Weeks – 17:31.98*
— Anya Arroyo – DNF
— Salma Elbadra – DNF
— Emma Torbert – DNF
5000 Meters (Open)
1. Elle Mehltretter – 18:03.08
2. Caitlin Gemmill – 18:05.13*
4. Lauren Horwitt – 18:07.02*
* – denotes outdoor PR
