CLEMSON, S.C. (Feb. 10, 2024) – For the second consecutive day at the Tiger Paw Invite, South Carolina’s own JaMeesia Ford stole the show for Gamecock Track & Field.
Ford broke yet another Clemson Indoor Track & Field Complex facility record when she ran 22.36 in the 200 meter to break Abby Steiner’s facility mark. In addition to the win in the 200m, Ford’s time set a new U20 world record for the fastest indoor 200m sprint on a short track, and she became the fourth fastest collegiate 200m runner in USTFCCCA history. Ford’s time also set a new program record, surpassing Shalonda Solomon’s mark of 22.57 set in 2006. With her time of 22.36, Ford reclaimed the top spot in the NCAA leaderboard for the 200m and jumped to second in the world standings for the 200m this year, only behind Julien Alfred who clocked 22.16.
The Gamecocks excelled in the 200m sprint as a group at Clemson with Jayla Jamison finishing fifth after running a season-best time of 23.06, just .01 seconds from tying her personal best. Freshman runner Zaya Akins set a new personal time in the 200m when she finished 11th after running 23.31 for the 10th fastest indoor 200m in Gamecock history. Fellow freshman Cynteria James also ran a sub-24 second 200m after posting a personal best time of 23.57.
The Gamecock women’s distance squad was led by Hattie Jennings who finished seventh in the 3,000 meter with a personal best time of 10:20.02.
On the men’s side at Clemson, three individuals stood out for the Gamecocks. Nyck Harbor turned in a new personal best in the 200m when he clocked 20.83 to finish sixth overall with the sixth fastest indoor 200m in program history. Aidan Hatton also finished sixth in the 800 meter invite, running a personal best time of 1:49.48 for the fifth best indoor 800m time in Gamecock history.
Channing Ferguson put together a podium finish in the men’s high jump after clearing 2.15m on his third attempt. He was unable to top 2.18m, having to settle for third place in the event.
Meanwhile up in Boston at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational, it was the men’s distance squad’s time to shine. South Carolina opened in the men’s mile, led by All-American distance runner Anass Essayi who finished as the top collegian runner with a time of 3:51.91 for the runner-up finish. Essayi’s time in the mile ranks third in the NCAA this season and has him sitting as the fourth-fastest mile runner in USTFCCCA history.
Newcomers Jaouad Khchina and Joshua…