Track & Field | March 01, 2025
The USC men’s team placed second with the meet coming down to the final event of the two-day competition and the women’s team placed third at the Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships being held at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion in Indianapolis, Ind. today (March 1). The men’s team had apparently won the meet by placing second in the men’s 4x400m relay, but a protest was lodged and USC’s relay was disqualified, leaving the Trojans with 99.5 points, 6.5 points behind Oregon. The USC men would have earned 8 points for their original finish in the relay. The women’s team placed third, scoring all 76 of its points during the final day.
Both the USC men and women won four events, with Johnny Brackins Jr. setting the men’s 60m hurdles meet record, Dajaz DeFrand setting the women’s 60m championships record and the women’s 4x400m relay closing the meet with another Big Ten Indoor Championships record.
“I am very proud of how both the men’s and women’s team performed,” said USC Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Quincy Watts. “On the women’s side, we set a lot of personal bests. I’m really excited about how Dajaz DeFrand is now second in the NCAA 60m and had a personal-best in the 200m. Christine Mallard had a 200m best, Madison Whyte had a PR and Jassani Carter is so consistent. Our women’s 200 meter group was lights out. Ashley Erasmus had a PR and finished sixth in the shot put and she wants more which is good for her. She has a bright future. Temi Ojora is still is competing at a high level and I am excited for her senior year.
“The men came in and had an opportunity to win and we ended up second. We are going to keep our heads up. We disagree with the decision, but we will keep our heads up as we move on to the NCAAs. We did a lot of great things and showed great effort. Nikolaos Polychroniou really stepped up for the team competing in the weight throw for the first time in a few years and earning us two points which were not expected. Brady Palen and Elias Gerald did a wonderful job in the high jump. Our 400m runners were great and our 60m group of JC Stevenson, Travis Williams, Taylor Banks and Edward Nketia did a great job with all of them scoring. Our assistant coaches did a great job of preparing them to…
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at USC Athletics…