COLUMBIA, S.C. (Jan. 20, 2024) – South Carolina Track & Field capped off an eventful day of competition on Saturday with both the TRACK @ New Balance Collegiate Showdown and hosting the Carolina Challenge.
JaMeesia Ford continued her scorching start to her collegiate career, running the 400 meter at the Collegiate Showdown in Boston. The Fayetteville, N.C. native posted a time of 51.60 for the win, laying claim to the current World Lead in the 400m as well as the number one ranking in all of NCAA Division I. Her time also sits fourth all-time in South Carolina history. Teammate and fellow freshman Zaya Akins clocked 52.67 for the sixth fastest 400m in the NCAA this season, finishing third overall in the event.
Jayla Jamison and Anthony Greenhow both placed inside the top three in the 60-meter dash in Boston, with Jamison (7.39) finishing runner up and Greenhow (6.74) capturing third.
The men’s 4×400 meter relay of Greenhow, Andrew Bond, Nyck Harbor and Jayson Ward came away with the win in Beantown after running 3:14.61 for the second fastest 4x400m relay by a Gamecock team this season. Dylan Targgart captured a runner-up finish in the shot put while in Boston, throwing 19.16m (62-10.5).
Meanwhile at the Carolina Challenge, the Gamecock men’s squad came away with a pair of wins as well as several runner-up finishes. Nate Figgers claimed the title in the high jump invite after clearing 2.06m (6-9), while Ridge Dowe threw a new personal best 16.58m (54-4.75) in the men’s weight throw invitational for the win.
In the men’s mile, Rogerio Amaral made his season debut for the Gamecocks and finished runner up with a time of 3:58.42 for a new personal best. Amaral’s time also ranks second in indoor South Carolina T&F history and 10th in the NCAA this season. Channing Ferguson and Prescott Jefferson also secured runner-up finishes in their respective events. Ferguson jumped 7.31m (23-11.75) to finish as the top collegian, while Jefferson ran a personal best 21.67 in the 200m for the second-place finish.
In the men’s pole vault, Parker Samuelson and Jonathan Togami tied for top collegiate finishers, both clearing new personal bests of 4.76m (15-7.25).
South Carolina women primarily competed in distance events at the Carolina Challenge on Saturday, led by Gabriella Gait-Smith with a third-place finish in the 3,000-meter race. The South Africa native ran 9:51.28 for the sixth fastest time in Gamecock history.
Aalliyah Francis was the top female…