NASHVILLE – Jax State returns to action this weekend in the Music City to open the spring slate of meets for the 2024 indoor track and field schedule.
 
The Gamecocks took a brief winter break hiatus after a pair of early indoor meets in December that saw immediate success from newcomers and veterans alike.
 
In Birmingham, freshman Emma Drinkard set a lifetime best for the indoor 400-meter event just behind junior Hailey Tucker, who scored new a lifetime best in both the indoor 200 and 400. In the field, fresman Jadyn Bonds finished runner-up in the high jump clearing 5'05" in her first meet. In addition to Bonds and Drinkand, Jax State saw Gamecock debuts from Jailah Loving, Amiyah Johnson, Chaci Whitfield, Amber Bailey and Sky White that weekend.
 
A week later in Salem, Va., senior Carolina Minozzi shined with a third-place finish scoring a personal best 3290 points in the pentathlon event. Minozzi scored top five in every event, including winning the 60-meter hurdles with a school pentathlon record 9.06 seconds and taking the top spot in the long jump with a distance of 17'6¼". 
 
The competition takes a step up Friday and Saturday at the Vanderbilt Invitational in Nashville with several teams throughout the region taking part in the event.  
 
Friday's meet schedule will begin with pentathlon action at 9 a.m., followed by the start of field events including the pole vault, high jump and weight throw at 11 a.m. The running events are slated to take off beginning at 6 p.m. with the 200 meters. The remaining field competitions will conclude Saturday morning, with a heavy track schedule to follow starting at noon.
 
Portions of both Friday and Saturday competition will live stream on SEC Network+. Video and live results links can be found at JaxStateSports.com.
 
As of Thursday evening result links were not yet distributed from Vanderbilt Athletics. Links will be added online when made available.