Gamecocks Back in Action at Orange & Purple Invitational
CLEMSON, S.C. (Jan. 22, 2026) – South Carolina Track & Field returns to action for the second time in the calendar year, competing at the Orange & Purple Invitational tomorrow in Clemson, S.C.
Follow the Meet
Live results for the meet in the Upstate can be found by clicking here. Patrons who are unable to attend, can watch the meet on ACCNX at the following link. Fans can also follow along with updates on X by following @GamecockTrack.
Meet Information
The 2026 edition of the Orange & Purple Invitational has been slightly altered due to inclement weather predicted in the vicinity on Saturday. The meet has been condensed to a one-day meet only that will commence tomorrow morning with the first field event at 10 a.m. (women’s pole vault) and the first track event taking place at 10:30 a.m. in the women’s 1000m. The track meet will conclude with the men’s DMR at 7:45 p.m. and the women’s DMR at 8 p.m.
Last Time Out
South Carolina last competed on Saturday, Jan. 10 when the Gamecocks hosted the Gamecock Opener. The Garnet & Black opened the home slate with 16 combined wins, including a pair of program records. The men’s squad captured nine wins, with Tyson Williams breaking his own 300m program mark after clocking 32.22 for the third fastest 300m in collegiate history. The women’s squad secured seven wins, including Jathiyah Muhammad tying the Gamecock indoor pole vault record after clearing 4.35m (14-3.25).
Eyes on the Bowerman
Junior sprinter, JaMeesia Ford, continues to live in the spotlight. On Jan. 7, she was named to The Bowerman Preseason Watch List for the second consecutive season. Ford, a 2025 semifinalist for The Bowerman, has been named to the watch list 13 times and is the active leader for the women in appearances. The North Carolina native has ran a pair of 300m sprints this season, winning both with times of 36.25 and 36.52. She has also competed on one 4x400m relay squad, running as the second leg and leading South Carolina to a time of 3:40.04 for the win at the Gamecock Opener.
Never Too Early
With the season just a few weeks in the books, South Carolina finds itself heavily represented in the individual rankings. The Gamecock women appear inside the individual Top 25 rankings 12 times, led by Alexis Brown who sits fourth in both the 60m (7.21) and the 200m (23.23). Salma Elbadra holds the highest ranking as she leads the NCAA in the 3K after running 8:41.76 at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Opener in Boston, Mass. on Dec. 6.
The men have three Top 25 rankings, led by a 4x400m quartet that sits atop the charts. Josiah Wrice, Devan Crumpton, Andrew Salvodon and Jasauna Dennis currently hold the fastest relay time this season of 3:04.39, coincidentally setting a program record in the process.
