COLUMBIA, S.C. – Trequan Barnes won the 400-meter dash and several newcomers fared well to lead the Norfolk State men's track and field team at its indoor season-opener Saturday at the Gamecock Opener hosted by the University of South Carolina.

Barnes posted a winning time of 47.56 seconds, a facility record and the senior's fastest indoor time since his sophomore year. The time ranks among the top 15 nationally.

Barnes posted the only win for NSU, but several other Spartans fared well in the team's first meet since last year's MEAC Indoor Championship. NSU had four other top-five finishes in the sprints, including a 2-3-4 finish in the 200 meters. Junior Kai Cole was runner-up in 21.75 seconds, sophomore newcomer Anthony Franklin was third in 21.82 and sophomore Savien Hayes was next in 22.04.

In the 60 meters, senior Keith Brown placed fifth in the finals with a time of 6.87 seconds. He clocked a 6.84 in the prelims. Freshman Bryan-Madison Ahouman took seventh in the same event.

The Spartans' young crop of field athletes performed well. Redshirt freshman Joshua Sutton was the runner-up in the high jump in his first meet as a Spartan. He cleared 6 feet, 8 inches.

Sophomore Azad Williams, the reigning MEAC shot put champion, also notched a runner-up finish. His top toss of the day traveled 48 feet, 11.75 inches, and he was one of two athletes to break the facility record along with winner Milton Ingraham of Florida State.

Freshman Isaac Haywood jumped well in both his events. Haywood was fifth in the triple jump (48-6.75) and tied for sixth in the long jump (23-2.5).

"Overall, I'm pleased with the results for the most part," NSU Director of Track and Field Kenneth Giles said. "It wasn't a bad start for a young team which has not competed in almost a year."

The Spartans are back in action next Saturday at the VMI Team Challenge.