Chance sets national record at inaugural meet

A new school record by Arinze Chance made a historic evening truly special as the University of South Carolina track & field team competed on day one of the Gamecock Inaugural. Chance posted a new Gamecock record of 46.15 in the indoor 400m on the first-ever day of competition at the newly-remodelled Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex.
The former student of the Bishops’ High School and Queen’s College now has the fastest 400m run in the NCAA this season, and has also set a Guyana national record in the event. It’s the second national record in as many weeks for the senior, who broke his nation’s mark in the indoor 300m last week at the Orange & Purple Elite.
“Two records in two weeks – what more could a guy ask for?” Chance said after the race. “I’m just having fun, I’m just happy that I’m here and I can compete and do what I love.”
Chance was one of four Gamecocks to taste victory Friday as the team officially opened its new indoor facility. Stephanie Davis (women’s 400m Invite), Anna Kathryn Stoddard (women’s 300m) and Noah Walker (men’s Open 400m) also etched their names into the record books as Gamecock victors on the first day of the new facility.
Speaking on the Guyanese’s performance, Head Coach Curtis Frye stated, “I’m really excited. Watching Arinze on this track proves what I thought – this is a wide track, it’s a high-banked track, and it’s got gentle slopes off the high banks. He’s a young man that dropped from 47.2 to 46.1 and he has bought in. Last year was difficult for him, he had to sit out after indoors, but he continued to stay positive. He went to class and did work. He came back this fall ready to work out, and he proved that if you do the things you’re asked and buy into the system, great things will happen.”