ORANGEBURG, SC – The South Carolina State track and field teams continued their strong season this past Saturday at the USC Open in Columbia. Overall, SC State had five Top 5 showings, set six personal records and improved its standing in the MEAC rankings.

In a strong field, sophomore Dexter Ratliff finished fourth in the discus with a toss of 49.30m (161-09 ft.), moving to the top spot in the event in the MEAC; junior Tyler Jeffers was fourth in the 800 meters in a time of 1:53.13 and climbed to third in the MEAC; freshman Devin Brewington was fifth in the 400 meters in a time of 47.30, moving to seventh in the MEAC rankings; while the 4x400-meter relay team of Jeffers, Brewington, Waddell Rembert-Jett and Matron Thornton, claimed second in the event, moving to third in the MEAC.

In other action, freshman Jada Banks improved on her time in the 1500-meter run with a clocking of 4:44.18, a personal record, which moves her to second-best all time in the event at SC State. Banks is also second all-time in the 5000 meters at the university.

Rembert-Jett, a junior, had a strong showing in the 200 meters with a time of 21.59, while freshman Tanryn Thorn was 10^th in the women's 400 meters with a 56.62 showing, placing her eighth in the MEAC rankings.

The MEAC Outdoor Championship is set for May 7-8 at Greensboro, with North Carolina A&T as host.