Men's Indoor Track Sets Records at USC Gamecock Open
COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia College Men's indoor track and field team competed in their second indoor meet of the season on Saturday at the Gamecock Open at the University of South Carolina. The meet involved only NCAA Div. I, Div. II, and Div. III schools while the Koalas were the only NAIA team in attendance.
In the 4x400 meter relay, the men placed 5th out of 8 teams (3rd among D-2) with a time of 3:23 led by the team of freshman Meshach Guadeloupe, sophomore Ashton Pouncie, sophomore Corey Liggins, and freshman Alex Smith. Smith ran the fastest leg in 48.3 seconds.
In the 60 meter dash, sophomore Kamron Holman led CC placing 23rd in 7.2 seconds while junior Willy Calcano was 27th in 7.28 seconds. In the 200 meters, freshman Jaden Barnette was 25th in 23.4 seconds while fellow freshman Michael Seth was 29th in 24.4 seconds.
Liggins then led the Koalas placing 21st out of 30 in the 300 meters in 37.7 seconds while freshman Jaiden Gray was 25th in 38.69 seconds. In the 400 meters, freshman Alex Smith had an impressive showing placing 7th of 23 in 49.78 seconds while Pouncie was 13th in 50.74 seconds. Guadeloupe was also 18th in 52.3 seconds.
Then, in the 800 meters, freshman DJ McGriff-Agers set a new school record time of 1:59.22 to finish 3rd overall and post a top 30 NAIA time while currently seeded third in the AAC.
Freshman Jimmy Bates then led the Koalas in the 1000 meters placing 9th in a time of 3:06 while freshman Jordon Miller was 12th in 3:10. In the mile race, freshman Jalen Miller led placing 11th in 5:24 while sophomore Jude Dill was 12th in 5:41. Finally, to finish up the distance races, freshman Will Parker finished 10th in the 3000 meters in a time of 10:25.
The Men then competed in five field events: High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Shot Put and Weight Throw.
Setting a new school record in the High Jump was freshman Nevan Gaither with a mark of 1.85 meters (over 6 ft) to place in a tie for 5th out of 15 and is also seeded 3rd in the AAC. Gaither fouled out in the Triple Jump, however.
In the Long Jump, sophomore Jayden Young led the Koalas placing 17th with a mark of 5.36 meters (17 ft). Junior Samuel Ah Ping then led the Koalas in the Shot Put and Weight Throw placing 11th in the SP out of 23 with a mark of 12.4 meters (over 40 ft) and 8th out of 20 in the WT at 13 meters (42.9 ft). Also competing in the shot put and weight throw were freshman Jaden Reed and junior Jonathan Davis. Reed was 16th in the SP with a mark of 10.98 meters (36 ft) while Davis was 18th at 10.39 meters. Davis was then 10th in the WT at 11.93 meters (39 ft) while Reed was 11th in 11.89 meters.
The men will next be competing on January 17 in Roanoke, VA at the Finn Pincus Invitational.
Alex Smith pictured below in the relay:
