Track and Field . April 17, 2026

Pair of Distance Records Fall in Friday’s Dual-Meet Action

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (April 17, 2026) – South Carolina Track & Field competed in dual-meet action on Friday with the distance group closing out the Wake Forest Invitational, while the remainder of the squad kickstarted the 2026 Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville, Fla.

The distance group dominated in Winston-Salem, N.C. with a pair of program records as well as six combined Top 10 program marks. Salma Elbadra and Jaouad Khchina each broke the program record in their respective 1500m races, with Khchina finished third overall after running 3:35.07 and Elbadra taking the top spot in her race with a mark of 4:02.63. Additionally, Elbadra’s time is the fastest 1500m time in the NCAA this season as well as the third fastest time in NCAA Division I history.

Three other Gamecock women recorded Top 10 program marks in the 1500m, led by Abigail White who improved on her personal best time with the fourth fastest time in school history after clocking 4:20.13. She was followed by Eline Mast who made her 1500m Gamecock debut and ran the fifth fastest time in school history, 4:26.05. Ella Zeigler was the final competitor in the 1500m to register a Top 10 time, running 4:28.50 for the 10th fastest mark in school history.

Anya Arroyo climbed the ladder in the 5000m Top 10 program leaderboard, crossing the finish line with a personal best time of 15:52.56 to rank second in school history.

Meanwhile in Florida at the Tom Jones Memorial, it was the women’s team that also shined. Akala Garrett and Kyndall Harrington-Spain took care of business in the 400-meter hurdle with Garrett capturing the win after running 54.46. Harrington-Spain improved on her personal best time when she crossed the line in 56.94 for the eighth fastest time in Gamecock history.

Tristen Harris closed the opening day in Gainesville with a win in the women’s long jump, tying her personal best distance of 6.34m (20-9.75).

The Gamecocks will conclude the weekend tomorrow in the second and final day of the Tom Jones Memorial. South Carolina will begin competition at 9 a.m. with the women’s discus and will cap off the day with the invite section of the men’s 4x400m relay at 6 p.m.

Wake Forest Invitational
Men’s Individual Results
1500 Meters (Invite – Section 2)
— Kaleb Burroughs – DNF

1500 Meters (Invite – Section 3)
— Edouard Lecrivain – DNF

1500 Meters (Invite – Section 6)
3. Jaouad Khchina – 3:35.07*

1500 Meters (Section 4)
5. Marcellus Mines – 3:49.37*

1500 Meters (Section 7)
7. Carlos Lanzagorta-Ruiz – 3:47.87*
— Knox Eaton – DNF

Women’s Individual Results
400 Meters
4. Sylvia Chelangat – 54.43

1500 Meters (Invite – Section 3)
6. Abigail White – 4:20.13*

1500 Meters (Invite – Section 4)
9. Eline Mast – 4:25.06

1500 Meters (Invite – Section 6)
1. Salma Elbadra – 4:02.63*

1500 Meters (Section 3)
10. Allie Matasich – 4:37.15*

1500 Meters (Section 4)
3. Ella Zeigler – 4:28.50*

5000 Meters (Invite – Section 2)
12. Emma Torbert – 16:35.45