COLUMBIA, S.C. – Indya Richards placed in the top eight in three different events and Malika Pride and Leslie Young in two apiece as the Spartan women's track and field team returned from the semester break at the Gamecock Opener on Saturday.

Richards was third in the long jump, sixth in the 60 meter hurdles and eighth in the 60 meters on Saturday. She just missed her long jump PR with a top leap of 18 feet, 2.5 inches. She did PR in both events on the track, with a top time of 8.52 in the 60 hurdle prelims and a 7.62 in the 60 meters.

Pride, the Spartans' anchor in the sprints, showed well in both the 200 and 400 meters. She clocked a time of 24.34 in the 200 meters to finish fourth, third among collegiate athletes. IN the 400, she posted a time of 55.70, seventh overall and fourth among collegians.

Young made a successful college debut in the throws. She placed third in both the shot put (42-11) and weight throw (54-0). Her shot put mark currently leads the MEAC.

Dahja Price also PRed over the weekend. She placed fifth in the long jump with a top leap of 17-8.25, while Tania Dunbar's seventh-place finish gave the Spartans three of the top eight in the event.

Another freshman, D'Nysha Brightful, placed eighth in the pole vault.

The Spartans are next in action Friday and Saturday at the Penn State National.