COLUMBIA, S.C. (Jan. 11, 2025) – South Carolina Track & Field flexed its muscles in the home opener on Saturday at the Gamecock Opener, winning a combined 12 events with eight combined NCAA Top 25 marks and five new program Top 10 identifiers. In addition, the two squads combined for 20 new personal best marks in the home opening meet.
The women’s squad led the way with eight wins, including seven individual titles. South Carolina won four individual titles on the track, doing so in the women’s 60 meter, 200 meter, 300 meter and the 3,000 meter. Joslyn Hamilton was the victor in the 60m sprint, improving on her PR each round before clocking 7.44 for the win. Cynteria James picked up her first 200m title on the season, running 23.81 for the sixth fastest time in the NCAA this season. JaMeesia Ford continued her impressive run in her young career, winning the 300m dash after crossing the line at 36.48. The final individual win on the track came from freshman Abigail White, running the eighth fastest time in program history in the indoor 3K, posting a time of 9:48.57.
The Gamecock women picked up three wins in the field events and none more impressive than Oregon transfer Cheyla Scott in the women’s high jump. Scott cleared the bar at 1.86m (6-1.25) for the third best indoor high jump in program history and currently ranks second in the NCAA this year. Fellow jumper Omaria Gordon etched her name in the record books in the long jump, jumping 6.16m (20-2.5) for the seventh best long jump in program history and ninth longest jump in the NCAA. The final individual win came from Lena Richardson in the women’s pole vault, winning for the second consecutive meet after clearing 3.80m (12-5.5).
The women’s quartet of Zaya Akins, Jayla Jamison, Cynteria James and JaMeesia Ford closed the meet in style in the 4×400 meter relay, running 3:35.58 for the third fastest time in the NCAA.
The Gamecock men secured four wins, doing so with three individual titles and claiming the 4×400 meter relay. Anthony Greenhow captured the 300m title for the lone track individual victory for the Gamecock men, clocking 33.11. Theo Mudzengerere and Dylan Targgart won their respective events, with Mudzengerere capturing the triple jump (15.65m/51-4.25) and Targgart claiming the shot put (19.37m/63-6.75). In addition, Targgart’s mark ranks second in the NCAA in the young campaign.
The final win was the relay squad of Josiah Wrice, Devan Crumpton, Bryson Miller and…