CENTRAL, S.C. — The Columbia International University men's track & field team opened its 2026 outdoor season Friday and Saturday at the SWU GottaRun Invite hosted by Southern Wesleyan University.
James Mayo highlighted the Rams' efforts on the track, finishing seventh in the 100 meters with a time of 11.07 seconds. Mayo later placed third in the 200 meters in 22.05 seconds, with both performances meeting the Appalachian Athletic Conference and NCCAA qualifying standards.
Devarius Ponds also competed in the 100 meters, recording a time of 11.89 seconds, while Julian Carranza posted a time of 24.81 seconds in the 200 meters and later ran 54.00 seconds in the 400 meters. Mark Zagata added a time of 51.77 seconds in the 400 meters.
In the middle-distance events, Spencer Evans finished the 800 meters in 2:15.66, and Joey Canning recorded a time of 4:30.63 in the 1500 meters.
CIU also competed in the relays, finishing fourth in the 4x100 relay in 42.56 seconds with a lineup of Ponds, Donavan Latimer, Dallas Turner and Mayo. The Rams placed third in the 4x400 relay with Zagata, Latimer, Turner and Mayo clocking a time of 3:26.40.
Turner delivered one of the top field performances of the meet, winning the high jump with a clearance of 2.00 meters (6-6.75), a mark that qualified for both the AAC and NCCAA. Nicholas Ortiz placed third in the pole vault with a clearance of 3.75 meters (12-3.5), meeting the AAC qualifying standard.
Latimer added a jump of 5.41 meters (17-9) in the long jump and won the triple jump with a mark of 14.28 meters (46-10.25).
In the throws, Dante Shuler led the Rams with a fifth-place finish in the shot put at 13.18 meters (43-3), a mark that met both AAC and NCCAA qualifying standards. Shuler also placed second in the hammer throw with a toss of 46.66 meters (153-1), another AAC and NCCAA qualifying mark. Bryce Scarborough recorded throws of 10.19 meters (33-5.25) in the shot put, 29.14 meters (95-7) in the discus and 42.98 meters (141-0) in the hammer throw, the hammer throw meeting both AAC and NCCAA qualifying standards.
Jeremy Daniels rounded out CIU's field performances with a javelin throw of 43.43 meters (142-6), an AAC qualifying mark.
CIU returns to the track next weekend when the Rams host the John-Hunter Classic on Mar. 20–21 in Columbia.
