The Coastal Carolina University and University of South Carolina indoor track and field teams are set to compete at the Orange and Purple Invitational in Clemson, South Carolina, on Friday. Originally planned for two days, the meet has been condensed into one due to expected inclement weather. Both squads enter with strong recent performances and notable athletes in the spotlight.
The Orange and Purple Invitational marks the start of the indoor track and field season for Coastal Carolina's Chanticleers, who will send several key athletes to Clemson. Latiana Acker, a regional qualifier in the outdoor 200m last season, is slated for the 60m and 200m events. Zionna Perez-Tucker, who qualified for last year's outdoor regional in the 100m, makes her indoor debut in the same sprints. Addison Laughlin, fresh off an All-Sun Belt second-team nod in cross country, will run the 1-mile.
Meanwhile, the South Carolina Gamecocks return to competition after hosting the Gamecock Opener on January 10, where they secured 16 wins and set two program records. Tyson Williams broke his own 300m mark with a time of 32.22, the third-fastest in collegiate history. Jathiyah Muhammad tied the women's indoor pole vault record at 4.35m (14-3.25). Junior sprinter JaMeesia Ford, a two-time Bowerman semifinalist, has won both her 300m races this season (36.25 and 36.52) and was named to the preseason watch list on January 7.
The Gamecocks boast strong national rankings early in the season. Their women appear in the top 25 12 times, with Alexis Brown fourth in the 60m (7.21) and 200m (23.23), and Salma Elbadra leading the NCAA in the 3K (8:41.76). The men's 4x400m relay team—Josiah Wrice, Devan Crumpton, Andrew Salvodon, and Jasauna Dennis—holds the top time of 3:04.39, a program record.
Due to weather forecasts, the meet begins at 10 a.m. with the women's pole vault, followed by the women's 1000m at 10:30 a.m., and wraps up with the distance medley relays around 8 p.m. Live results and video are available via official channels.
