Mel Obadiah Jr. rose to the occasion against Division I talent Saturday, striking gold in the 800m to headline USCB track and field’s efforts at the Gamecock Invitational in Columbia.
The senior was sensational on the track, posting a blazing time of 1:52.49 to take first place against a loaded 24-athlete field and best a South Carolina Gamecock by nearly a full second. He also set a new personal record and rewrote his own program mark with the dazzling performance.
Former Beaufort High standout Reggie Jones Jr. also was part of a gold-medal performance, helping Allen University win the 4×100 relay.
USCB’s Iyana McKeever continued her terrific season, finishing in 11th place out of 56 sprinters in the 100m with a time of 11.89 marking a new personal record. Steven Nesbitt excelled in the 100m with a top-15 finish of 10.72, Kadari Mitchell took 13th in the 200m with a personal record of 21.55, and Shamar Deacon also placed 13th in the 400m clocking in at 49.31.
USCB will now prepare for the Sun Conference Championships, which will take place in Bradenton, Florida, on the weekend of May 1 and 2.
By Wes Kerr
