Track and Field . May 17, 2026

Gamecock Women Earn Best SEC Outdoor Finish Since 2006

AUBURN, Ala. (May 16, 2026) – The 2026 SEC Outdoor Championship concluded on Saturday evening in Auburn, Ala. with the Gamecock women climbing the leaderboard into fourth place. The fourth-place result marked the best team finish since 2006 when South Carolina placed third. The men’s team finished 15th overall following the final day of competition.

The Gamecock women recorded a total of 62 points throughout the weekend, including 52 points in Saturday’s finale. Salma Elbadra and Akala Garrett were responsible for the two gold medals for the Garnet & Black as well as 20 points. Elbadra, running the 1500m, repeated as the SEC Outdoor Champion when she clocked 4:09.80 to fend off Tia Wilson of Florida who ran 4:09.84. Garrett earned the first gold medal for the Gamecocks in the 400mH since Tyler Brockington won in 2017, running a new world leading time of 54.02. Garrett’s winning time in the 400mH is the second fastest time in school history and saw her become the eighth 400mH winner in program history. Elbadra later scored in the 5000m as well, placing fifth overall when she turned in a time of 15:52.80 to become the first athlete in program history to score twice in the 5000m SEC Outdoor Championship.

South Carolina scored nine points in the women’s 100m, led by Alexis Brown who took home the bronze medal after posting 11.09 (0.5). She was joined in the scorer’s column by teammate Cynteria James who ran 11.15 (0.5) to finish sixth. Brown also scored in the women’s 200m, finishing fifth overall after crossing the line in 22.63 (0.1). JaMeesia Ford and Joslyn Hamilton were the final two individual scorers for South Carolina on Saturday. Ford place fourth overall in the women’s 400m, running 50.44. Meanwhile, Hamilton scored for the second consecutive outdoor season in the 100-meter hurdles, clocking 13.04 (0.4).

The Gamecock women’s relays also posted points, finishing fourth overall in the 4x400m relay and fifth in the 4x100m relay. The 4x400m relay of Garrett, Ford, Kyndall Harrington-Spain and James ran 3:25.09 for the fourth fastest mark in school history. The 4x100m quartet of Brown, James, Kymora-Lee Williams and Hamilton turned in a time of 42.87 for the fifth fastest mark in school history.

On the men’s side, the Gamecocks scored in three of the five events on the day. Jaouad Khchina was the highest scorer for South Carolina, placing third overall in the men’s 1500m when he ran 3:44.34. Khchina’s bronze medal finish is the second best 1500m result in Gamecock men’s history as he became the first ever two-time SEC Outdoor 1500m scorer in school history. Josiah Wrice was the next highest scorer, placing fourth overall in the men’s 400m race after running 45.09, scoring for the second consecutive season.

Kaleb Burroughs capped off a strong freshman campaign when he placed eighth overall in the 800m in his SEC Outdoor Championship debut. The South Carolina native clocked 1:46.78, turning in the third fastest time in program history.

The Gamecocks will return to the track for the next stage of postseason competition on May 27-30 as they take on the NCAA East Regional. This year’s regional meet will be held in Lexington, Ky. and will mark the third consecutive year that South Carolina has taken part in postseason competition in The Bluegrass State.

Men’s Team Standings
1. Arkansas – 110.5
2. Alabama – 94.5
3. Florida – 78
—
15. South Carolina – 12

Men’s Individual Results
400 Meters (Finals)
4. Josiah Wrice – 45.09

800 Meters (Finals)
8. Kaleb Burroughs – 1:46.78*

1500 Meters (Finals)
3. Jaouad Khchina – 3:44.34

5000 Meters
32. Elijah Poore – 14:33.74*
— Jaouad Khchina – DNF

4×400 Meter Relay
11. Wrice, Dennis, Salvodon, Stitts Jr. – 3:05.11

Women’s Team Standings
1. Florida – 107
2. Alabama – 91.5
3. Georgia – 90
—
4. South Carolina – 62

Women’s Individual Results
100 Meters (Finals)
3. Alexis Brown – 11.09 (0.5)
6. Cynteria James – 11.15 (0.5)

200 Meters (Finals)
5. Alexis Brown – 22.63 (0.1)

400 Meters (Finals)
4. JaMeesia Ford – 50.44

1500 Meters (Finals)
1. Salma Elbadra – 4:09.80
11. Abigail White – 4:17.78*

5000 Meters
5. Salma Elbadra – 15:52.80
19. Anya Arroyo – 16:28.40
23. Ella Zeigler – 16:37.01
27. Emma Torbert – 16:39.51