Charleston Southern University’s men’s track and field team opened their 2026 season at the Clemson Invite, where two school records were broken. Griffin Gillespie set a new school record in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:26.96, which also ranks as the eighth fastest in Big South Conference history. “Griffin Gillespie won the 1K at the meet and broke the school record with a 2:26.96. The time also ranks as the 8th best in the history of the Big South.” Kaden Kleinhen participated in the same event and achieved a personal best of 2:30.71.
Aden Price established new school and conference records in the 300 meters, finishing with a time of 33.30 seconds and placing eighth overall. “Later in the day, Aden Price broke the school and conference records in the 300m with a time of 33.30 taking eighth in the event.”
The team’s performance included five athletes competing in the 5,000 meters, led by Lin Scott who finished third overall with a time of 15:05.84. William Reid and James Tyler made their indoor debuts with times of 15:24.56 and 15:29.62 respectively.
Jayden Anderson made his collegiate debut in the 60-meter hurdles, posting a time of 8.52 seconds—ninth fastest in program history. Hunter Adams debuted in the 600 meters with a time of 1:22.46, marking it as the second-best result for Charleston Southern.
In other distance events, Collin Kleinhen ran a mile in 4:22.45 while George Rowland finished at 4:24.69; Kleinhen also led his team’s effort in the 800 meters at 1:57.77.
Rogan Arriaga and Andrew Cleland were top finishers for Charleston Southern in another section of the meet’s distance races, clocking times of 8:43.89 and 8:46.95 to secure fourth and fifth places respectively.
Odin Ferency recorded Charleston Southern’s top mark in shot put with a throw of 15.21 meters (49’11”), earning fourth place overall; Tarrell Miles threw for a personal best of 16.40 meters during his weight throw debut while Ferency reached a personal best there as well at 15.27 meters.
The meet concluded with Charleston Southern’s relay team finishing fifth in the men’s 4×400 meter relay with a time of 3:16.46—the seventh-best mark recorded by their program.
The Buccaneers will take one weekend off before returning to Clemson for competition at the Orange and Purple Invite scheduled for January 23–24.
