COLUMBIA, S.C. (Jan. 13, 2024) – Saturday was a home opener to remember for Gamecock Track & Field as South Carolina captured eight wins and dropped four new facility records in the first meet of the 2024 calendar year.
South Carolina women led the way with five wins overall and three new facility records. Freshmen phenoms Judy Kosgei and JaMeesia Ford accounted for a pair of wins and new records. Kosgei, the Kenya native that stole the light in cross country, opened her track career with a program record and facility record win in the 1,000 meter with a time of 2:46.04. Ford, who put the world on notice at Clemson, was back at it again in the 300m with a win and a new facility record after running 36 seconds flat.
The Gamecock women earned two more individual wins in the form of Hannah Togami and Aalliyah Francis. Togami won her second pole vault event in just her second collegiate meet after clearing 3.87m (12-8.25). Meanwhile on the track, Francis clocked 55.20 in the women’s 400m for the title.
The final win of the evening for the Gamecock women came in the final event of the meet, the women’s 4×400 meter relay. Carolina’s relay team of Jahnile Registre, Jayla Jamison, Zaya Akins and Ford set a new facility record in the women’s 4x400m after clocking 3:31.27 for the win and the third best time in the NCAA this season.
The Gamecocks also saw a couple of runner-up finishes on the women’s side as Sylvia Chelangat ran 1:31.80 in the 600m for the second-fastest time in South Carolina history, while Staci Sumpter finished second in the 60m sprint with a time of 7.62.
Three more wins came from the Gamecock men, in addition to one more facility record. George Luke was the first of the trio of wins as he captured the 1,000 meter title with a time of 2:27.72 for the new facility record and the fifth fastest time in Gamecock history. Anthony Greenhow captured the podium finish in the men’s 200m when he ran a personal best time of 20.74 for the fifth best time in program history and the sixth fastest time in the NCAA this season.
Dylan Targgart rounded out the wins with a season-best throw of 19.19m (62-11.5) in the men’s shot put, currently ranking sixth in the NCAA leaderbord.
The Gamecock men also saw six runner-up finishes throughout the event. Andrew Bond was the fastest collegiate runner in the 60m finals, running 6.80, while Dillon McCarthy was the best collegiate finisher in the men’s pole vault after clearing 4.96m (16-3.25)….