LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 16, 2025) – South Carolina Track & Field positioned itself well for the final day of the SEC Outdoor Championship after winning a pair of silver medals on the men’s side and scoring in a pair of events for the women. In addition to the points, South Carolina qualified for seven additional finals events on Saturday.
Channing Ferguson and CJ Licata highlighted the men’s squad on Friday, each earning silver medalist honors in their respective events. Ferguson entered the men’s long jump with a personal best distance of 7.77m and was able to jump a new wind-legal personal best of 7.92m (26-0) in his final attempt, vaulting up the leaderboard into second for eight points. Ferguson is the first scorer for the Gamecocks in the men’s long jump since 2019 and his runner-up finish is the best overall finish in program history at the SEC Outdoor Championship. His jump of 7.92m also ranks fourth all-time in the Carolina record book and currently sits third in the NCAA East Region. CJ Licata was able to throw a season best distance in the shot put, launching 20.44m (67-0.75) for his second consecutive SEC Outdoor Championship silver medal. In addition, he moves up the ladder into second place in the NCAA East Region.
Dylan Targgart placed fourth overall in the men’s shot put, throwing a season best of his own as he reached 19.55m (64-1.75) and secure five critical points for the Garnet & Black. This was the fourth consecutive SEC Outdoor Championship that Targgart has scored in, joining Josh Awotunde as the only Gamecock shot put throwers to ever do so.
The men’s team qualified for three final appearances out of Friday’s preliminary rounds. Freshman sprinter Josiah Wrice put the conference on notice when he turned in a time of 44.99 in the 400m prelims, taking the top spot. Additionally, Wrice’s mark of 44.99 ranks third in program history, third in the East Region and is the second fastest U20 400m sprint in the world this year. The other two qualifying spots belonged to David Warmington in the 110-meter hurdles and Jaouad Khchina in the 1500m. Warmington turned in a season best time of 13.69 (0.8) to rank 22nd in the region, but more importantly seventh in the preliminary round. Khchina made his way to the 1500m finale after winning his heat, crossing the finish line in 3:50.44.
Elijah Poore rounded out his freshman season with a new personal best in the steeplechase, running 9:08.11 for the fifth fastest time in Gamecock…