Gamecocks Shine in Sunshine State at Florida Relays

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (April 3, 2026) – It was another rain-filled outdoor competition day for the Gamecocks as they concluded day one of the Florida Relays at Percy Beard Track in Gainesville, Fla.

Prior to the weather delay, the Gamecock women were cruising with four new Top 10 program marks as well as a pair of top times on the day. Jathiyah Muhammad etched her name into the Gamecock outdoor record book, clearing a program record 4.35m (14-3.25) in the women’s pole vault to finish runner-up in the event. Muhammad now controls the top spot in both the indoor and outdoor record book for the women’s pole vault.

Akala Garrett earned the lone individual win on the day, doing so in the women’s 400-meter hurdles. Garrett, making her Gamecock 400mH debut, ran the second fastest time recorded in a Garnet & Black uniform after crossing the line in 54.22 for the win. Tristen Harris also climbed the program leaderboard, doing so in the women’s long jump following her outdoor long jump debut. The freshman jumper took home bronze after jumping a wind-legal 6.34m (20-9.75), the fourth best long jump in Gamecock history.

The women’s 4×100 meter relay team of Alexis Brown, Cynteria James, Joslyn Hamilton and JaMeesia Ford captured the top spot in the preliminary round, running 42.85 to qualify for Saturday’s finale. In addition to the top time in the field, the quartet advanced into third all time in school history in the women’s 4x100m relay. Brown and James also returned to the track for the 200m sprint, with James finishing runner-up following a time of 22.95 (0.1) and Brown capturing fourth after clocking 23.03 (0.1).

The men competed in just four events on the day, headlined by Ellis Neighbors’ bronze finish in the men’s javelin after he threw 66.72m (218-11).

South Carolina will close the two-day competition tomorrow at Percy Beard Track beginning at noon with both the men’s shot put and the women’s 100-meter hurdles and will conclude the day at 6:10 p.m. with the women’s 4x400m relay.

Men’s Individual Results
200 Meters
14. Robert Stitts Jr. – 20.96 (-0.7)

1500 Meters (Open)
10. Elijah Poore – 3:59.73

1500 Meters (Invite)
22. Carlos Lanzagorta-Ruiz – 3:50.64

Javelin
3. Ellis Neighbors – 66.72m/218-11

Women’s Individual Results
200 Meters
2. Cynteria James – 22.95 (0.1)
4. Alexis Brown – 23.03 (0.1)
15. Maya Love – 23.62 (-2.6)

1500 Meters (Open)
6. Ella Zeigler – 4:34.47

4×100 Meter Relay (Prelims)
1. A. Brown, James, Hamilton, Ford – 42.85Q
12. Harris, Love, Cook, Williams – 44.88

400-Meter Hurdles
1. Akala Garrett – 54.22
9. Kyndall Harrington-Spain – 57.80*

Long Jump (Invite)
3. Tristen Harris – 6.34m/20-9.75 (1.3)*

Pole Vault
2. Jathiyah Muhammad – 4.35m/14-3.25*

Javelin
13. Hailey Sharkey – 44.38m/145-7

* – denotes outdoor collegiate PR