COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 24, 2023) – South Carolina Track & Field captured four wins in the opening day of the Weems Baskin Invitational as the Gamecocks hosted a full day of competition at the Sheila and Morris Cregger Track.
The Gamecock men took part in eight events in the opening day of the Weems Baskin, winning three events including two relays. Highlighting the relays was the men’s 4x800m squad that set the new Cregger Track facility record. The squad of George Luke, Jackson Dawson, Jake Mangione and Alex Galbraith crossed the finish line at 7:43.13, besting the previous facility record of 7:43.58 set in 2018.
The 4x300m relay team of Jackson Junkins, EJ Richardson, Gatlin Lawson and Will Spencer also earned a win, running 2:14.75 to capture the podium. The lone individual title came from sophomore jumper Blair Brooks when he jumped 7.20m (23-7.5) in the Long Jump Invitational.
Carolina also earned a pair of runner-up finishes on the track, with Prescott Jefferson setting a new personal best in the 100m sprint with a time of 10.85. Meanwhile, Jack Mensch ran his first collegiate 400m and recorded the 38th fastest time in the East Region with a time of 48.50 to take silver.
The Gamecock women competed in just four events on the day, taking the podium in the women’s 4x800m. The relay squad of Savannah Bowers, Emily Pierontoni, Emily Smith and Ally Wilson stopped the clock at 9:18.26 for the gold-medal finish.
The trio of Hayden Withers, Lilly Weeks and Anna Boyd finished inside the Top 5 in the women’s 5,000m run with all three runners setting personal bests. Withers finished runner-up with a time of 17:57.78, the 33rd fastest 5K in the East Region. Weeks posted the 42nd best time in the East Region with a mark of 18:16.69 to finish fourth in the meet. Boyd was right on her heels, stopping the clock at 18:28.12 to place fifth overall and record the 49th fastest time in the East Region.
South Carolina will close out the 2023 Weems Baskin Relays tomorrow with a full slate of events. Gates will open to the Cregger Track at 8 a.m. with the first field event coming at 10 a.m. as well as the first track event at 10 a.m.
Men’s Individual Results
100 Meters
2. Prescott Jefferson – 10.85*
18. Blair Brooks – 11.18
400 Meters
2. Jack Mensch – 48.50*
45. Ethan Mathis – 53.45*
5000 Meters
17. Henry Wood – 15:47.87*
4×300 Meter Relays
1. Junkins, Richardson, Lawson, Spencer – 2:14.75
4×800 Meter Relays
1. Luke, Dawson, Mangione, Galbraith –…