ORANGEBURG, SC – The South Carolina State track and field teams continued their strong start to the 2024 outdoor campaign over the weekend, setting another school record while winning a combined five events and earning Top Five showings in a total of 14 at the three-day (Mar. 28-30) Embry-Riddle Classic at Daytona Beach, FL.
 
First-place winners for SC State were Dexter Ratliff, who won the hammer with a school-record toss of 54.35 meters, and also took top honors in the discus (49.29m); Angelica Frederick, who won the 100 meters (11.99) and 200 meters (24,20); and Cameran Gist, who took top honors in the triple jump (12.17).
 
Recording runner-up finishes for Coach Donald Cooper's squads were Jacob Alexander in the 800 meters (1:52.09), Isaiah Vertus in the 400 meters (47.34), a personal best, Thomas White in the triple jump (14.49m), and Kenton George in the Decathlon (6056 pts.), setting a personal record.
 
Other top five performances for SC State were Debrielle Williams, third in the 800 meters (2:13.02), the third-best time in school history; the 4x100m relay team (Jayla Palmer, Frederick, Williams, Gist), third (48.26); and Gist, fourth in both the long jump (5.33m) and 100 meters (12.26); and the men's 4x100m relay team (Kaden Priester, Jalen Alleyne, Jaden Barker, Dwayne Curnell), fifth.
 
Over 20 schools participated in the meet.