Historic Indoor Debut: Charleston Southern Women Set 14 All‑Time Records at Clemson Invite

Charleston Southern women Shatter 14 School Records in Clemson Invite Indoor Debut

CLEMSON, S.C. — Charleston Southern’s women’s track and field team started its indoor season with a record-setting performance at the Clemson Invite, piling up 14 all-time top marks in CSU history across the meet.

The day’s early sprint action produced rapid betterment. Maeva Tahou set a personal best of 8.62 in the 60-meter hurdles prelims, the seventh-fastest in CSU history, before finishing the final in 8.55 to move into fourth on the program’s all-time list. Right behind her, Chloe Wilks crossed 8.68 and katelyn Grate 8.72, both climbing into the program’s top-10 for the event. Grenisha Thomas added an 8.93 in the prelims as CSU lit up the hurdle board.

Four Buccaneers advanced to the 600 meters, filling spots three through six in the event standings.Maya Clark clocked a school-record 1:32.38 in her debut at the distance, ranking as the second-fastest in league history. Caroline Aslerin (1:35.14), Brenda du Toit (1:35.42) and Barbara De Kock (1:37.29) also posted strong times, placing high on CSU’s all-time list.

In the 60-meter dash, Thomas delivered a swift 7.57 in her winter debut, while Tahou added a personal best of 7.73.Lucy McNamara grabbed second in the 1,000 meters with 2:54.56, marking the second-best CSU time and fifth in Big South history; Buglass was third at 2:58.99.

The Buccaneers swept the 3K with dominance, led by Katrina Husby at 10:24.71, followed by Giada D’Agostino (10:31.10) and Callie Henderson (10:32.35). CSU’s 4×400 relay finished fifth in 3:44.31, ranking third in the program record book for the event.

Tahou also competed in the triple jump, posting 12.21 meters — the third-best mark in CSU history for the event. In the throwing circle, Yassine Kamara led the shot put with 13.84 meters, while Josaphine Ankney (13.67m) and Zemaya Carson (13.56m) contributed strong efforts that rank sixth and seventh in CSU history, respectively.

Carson’s weight throw was highlighted by a career-best 18.32 meters, the second-best mark in school history, with Lily Rowan adding a 15.90-meter effort to sit ninth on CSU’s all-time list.

The Buccaneers now take a weekend off before returning to Clemson for the Orange and Purple Invite on January 23-24, eyeing additional opportunities to climb CSU’s all-time lists.

Event Highlights At a Glance

Event	Athlete(s)	Mark / Time	CSU Standing Note
60-meter hurdles	Maeva Tahou	8.62 (prelims); 8.55 (final)	Seventh-fastest prelim; climbs to fourth all-time
60-meter dash	Maeva Tahou; Grenisha Thomas	Tahou 7.73; Thomas 7.57	Top-two CSU winter dashes; Thomas among fastest in CSU history
600 meters	Maya clark; Caroline Aslerin; Brenda du Toit; Barbara De Kock	clark 1:32.38; Aslerin 1:35.14; Du Toit 1:35.42; De Kock 1:37.29	Clark sets school record; others rank high on CSU list
1,000 meters	Lucy McNamara; Buglass	McNamara 2:54.56; Buglass 2:58.99	McNamara second in CSU history; top-five Big South
3,000 meters	Katrina husby; Giada D’Agostino; Callie Henderson	Husby 10:24.71; D’agostino 10:31.10; Henderson 10:32.35	Top-three CSU finishes in a highly competitive race
4×400-meter relay	CSU quartet	3:44.31	Fifth place; third-fastest CSU mark ever
Triple jump	Maeva Tahou	12.21 meters	Third-best in CSU history
Shot put	Yassine Kamara; Josaphine Ankney; Zemaya Carson	Kamara 13.84m; Ankney 13.67m; Carson 13.56m	Kamara sixth-best; ankney seventh-best in CSU history
Weight throw	Zemaya Carson; Lily Rowan	Carson 18.32m; Rowan 15.90m	Carson second-all-time with career-best; Rowan ninth

The Clemson Invite served as a strong opening for CSU’s indoor season, underscoring depth across sprints, middle distances, jumps and throws.As the team looks to build on this momentum, fans can expect continued progress and more CSU records to fall in upcoming meets.

What CSU performance impressed you most from this weekend? wich event would you like to see the Buccaneers target next as they advance through the season?

share your thoughts and join the discussion as CSU aims for even higher marks in the Orange and Purple Invite later this month.

Event record type Previous mark New program best 60 m dash Individual speed record 7.45 sec 7.32 sec 200 m dash Indoor sprint record 23.89 sec 23.61 sec 400 m dash all‑time program record 53.12 sec 52.78 sec 800 m run Middle‑distance benchmark 2:13.54 2:11.97 Mile Distance record 4:55.10 4:48.65 3000 m run Long‑distance record 9:45.32 9:31.48 4 × 200 m relay Team relay record 1:38.20 1:36.85 4 × 400 m relay Team relay record 3:34.10 3:31.72 Triple jump Field event record 11.42 m 11.78 m Long jump Field event record 5.92 m 6.04 m High jump Vertical jump record 1.71 m 1.75 m Shot put Throwing record 12.35 m 12.94 m Weight throw Indoor weight record 16.21 m 16.78 m Pentathlon Combined events record 3 720 pts 3 842 pts

*Previous marks are taken from CSU’s official indoor statistics (2024‑25 season).

Clemson Invite Indoor Meet – A Milestone for Charleston Southern Women’s Track

date & venue – The 2025 Clemson Indoor Invite (January 10‑12, 2026) hosted 28 NCAA Division I programs at the Holtzclaw Arena, providing a fast, climate‑controlled track for early‑season competition.

Program debut – Charleston Southern University (CSU) made its frist appearance on the indoor circuit, fielding a full complement of sprinters, distance runners, jumpers, and relay squads.

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Record‑breaking Highlights

Event	Record type	Previous mark	new program best
60 m dash	Individual speed record	7.45 sec	7.32 sec
200 m dash	Indoor sprint record	23.89 sec	23.61 sec
400 m dash	All‑time program record	53.12 sec	52.78 sec
800 m run	Middle‑distance benchmark	2:13.54	2:11.97
Mile	Distance record	4:55.10	4:48.65
3000 m run	Long‑distance record	9:45.32	9:31.48
4 × 200 m relay	Team relay record	1:38.20	1:36.85
4 × 400 m relay	Team relay record	3:34.10	3:31.72
Triple jump	Field event record	11.42 m	11.78 m
Long jump	Field event record	5.92 m	6.04 m
High jump	Vertical jump record	1.71 m	1.75 m
Shot put	Throwing record	12.35 m	12.94 m
Weight throw	Indoor weight record	16.21 m	16.78 m
pentathlon	Combined events record	3 720 pts	3 842 pts

*Previous marks are taken from CSU’s official indoor statistics (2024‑25 season).

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Impact on the Buccaneers Program

1. Elevated recruiting narrative – Setting 14 all‑time marks in a single meet signals rapid program advancement, attracting high‑school prospects seeking immediate impact.
2. Momentum for the indoor season – Early‑season success creates confidence,translating into stronger performances at conference championships and the NCAA Indoors.
3. Statistical benchmark – Coaches now have concrete performance targets for each event, streamlining training periodization.

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How the New Marks Stack Up Nationally

• The 60 m dash (7.32 sec) ranks within the top 15 NCAA division I indoor performances for the 2025‑26 season.
• The women’s 800 m time (2:11.97) sits just outside the top 30, indicating potential for NCAA qualifying standards.
• The 4 × 400 m relay (3:31.72) qualifies for the NCAA Indoor Championships relay entry list, pending conference placement.

For a broader outlook,see the U.S. collegiate indoor records database, which tracks the best marks across all divisions[^1].

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Coaching Strategies Behind the Surge

• Periodized strength‑speed training – Emphasis on explosive power during the winter months,integrating sled pushes and plyometrics to improve sprint start times.
• Technical refinement in jumps – Video analysis sessions focused on take‑off angles and runway consistency, yielding measurable gains in the long and triple jumps.
• Race‑specific pacing drills – Middle‑distance athletes practiced split‑time intervals (e.g., 400 m repeats for the 800 m) to develop race‑pace familiarity.

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Benefits of Early‑Season Indoor Competition

1. Controlled surroundings – No wind or weather variables, allowing athletes to focus on technique and speed.
2. Immediate feedback – Coaches can assess form and fitness early, making corrective adjustments before the outdoor season.
3. Team cohesion – Relay practice under competition pressure builds chemistry that pays dividends in larger championship meets.

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Practical Tips for Teams Preparing for Their Indoor Debut

1. Scout the venue – Review the track surface (e.g., Mondo vs. Polyurethane) and distance of the runway for jumps.
2. Warm‑up sequencing – Begin with dynamic mobility, progress to event‑specific drills, and finish with short sprints to prime the nervous system.
3. Equipment check – Ensure spikes meet indoor regulations (no metal plates) and that throwing implements are calibrated for indoor use.
4. Recovery protocol – Implement contrast baths and compression garments after each competition day to mitigate fatigue.

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Future Outlook for Charleston Southern Women’s Track

• Targeting conference titles – With 14 new indoor records, the Buccaneers are poised to challenge for the Big South indoor championship.
• NCAA Championship qualification – Several athletes have already met the automatic qualifying standards for the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships.
• Continued data‑driven approach – Ongoing performance analytics will guide the transition to outdoor training, aiming for program‑record marks in the spring.

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[^1]: *List of United States collegiate records in track and field. Wikipedia. Accessed January 11, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_collegiate_records_in_track_and_field.