COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb University track and field team returned to action on Friday and Saturday afternoon at the University of South Carolina, competing in the Gamecock Challenge

Among the leaders for Gardner-Webb include senior Teryn Bour. The Defiance, Ohio native posted one of her best performances of the track and field season to date, finishing eighth in the women's 600 meter race with a time of 1:23.47. Freshman Rylee Cassada also competed in the same event, placing 16th and crossing the line after 1:50.06

The Runnin' Bulldogs were strong in the men's 600 meter as well. Senior Ryan Morita managed a time of 1:22.47 and good for 10th place, while freshman Luke York followed in 19th after 1:39.31

The women's 1000 meter race proved to be among the best events of the weekend for Gardner-Webb, with three Runnin' Bulldogs inside the top ten. Junior Jessica Perriello continued a fine season with a second place run and a time of 3:00.23. Perriello was followed by GWU teammates, freshman Emily Leatherman and Brooke Hope, in eighth and 10th place. Leatherman completed the race in 3:07.53 while Hope crossed the stripe in 3:19.93. Perriello also competed in the women's 1-mile later in the day, finishing 11th with a time of 5:00.26

Gardner-Webb was also among the best performing schools in the men's 1000 meter race. Freshman Cade Bright set a personal record with a time of 2:47.79 and an 11th place run, while freshman Gabe Morrison came just behind in 12th, clocking in at 249.52

Over to the field events, where sophomore Jonathan Timpson shined for the 'Dawgs. The Hildale, Utah native was fourth overall, putting a distance of 1.97 meters on the board in the men's high jump.

Over in the women's high jump, freshman Paige Boyd put together one of her best performances of the season so far, clocking a distance of 1.53 meters and seventh place. GWU teammates Isa van Sintemaartensdijk placed 12th in the same event with a distance of 1.53 meters.

Freshman Joshua Powell put together a pair of solid outings for Gardner-Webb, first in men's long jump then in men's triple jump, In long jump, Powell recorded a distance of 6.89 meters for ninth place, then later on finished 11th in the triple jump behind a distance of 13.38 meters.

Freshman Adrionna Coleman was also among the top field event performers for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Coleman placed seventh with a PR in the women's shot put, recording a distance of 12.42 meters.

Lastly, in the women's weight throw, the Runnin' Bulldogs placed two inside the top ten finishers. Junior Madison Boyd put a PR on the board with a distance of 16.30 meters, also good enough to finish fourth. Meanwhile, sophomore Zoie Johnson placed 10th in the same event with a distance of 13.71 meters.

Next up, the Runnin' Bulldogs look ahead to the VMI Winter Relays, scheduled for Saturday, February 8th in Lexington, Va.