South Carolina Women's DMR Earns Silver at NCAA Championship

Gamecocks make history with first-ever DMR scoring finish at NCAA Indoor meet

Mar. 14, 2026 at 2:52am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The South Carolina women's distance medley relay (DMR) team earned a silver medal and made history as the first Gamecocks DMR squad to score points at the NCAA Indoor Championship. The team of Eline Mast, Akala Garrett, Sylvia Chelangat, and Salma Elbadra ran 10:49.69 to finish second and earn First Team All-American honors.

Why it matters

This is a landmark achievement for the South Carolina women's track and field program, as the DMR squad became the first in school history to earn points at the NCAA Indoor Championship meet. The Gamecocks' strong performance on the opening day of competition puts them in good position heading into the final day of the meet.

The details

Mast led off with a 3:24.05 split in the 1200m, followed by Garrett's 53.46 in the 400m. Chelangat then ran 2:05.69 in the 800m before Elbadra closed with a blistering 4:26.50 mile split, the fastest of any anchor leg, to propel the Gamecocks into second place. The DMR finish earned South Carolina eight team points, putting them in sixth place overall after day one.

  • The NCAA Indoor Championship is taking place March 13-14, 2026 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The players

Eline Mast

A member of the South Carolina women's track and field team who ran the opening 1200m leg of the DMR.

Akala Garrett

A member of the South Carolina women's track and field team who ran the 400m leg of the DMR.

Sylvia Chelangat

A member of the South Carolina women's track and field team who ran the 800m leg of the DMR.

Salma Elbadra

A member of the South Carolina women's track and field team who ran the anchor mile leg of the DMR, recording the fastest split of any closer.

South Carolina Women's Track & Field

The women's track and field program at the University of South Carolina.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

South Carolina will look to build on its strong start on the final day of the NCAA Indoor Championship on March 14, 2026. The Gamecocks have qualifiers in several individual events and will also compete in the women's and men's 4x400m relays to close out the meet.

The takeaway

The South Carolina women's track and field team has made a major statement at the NCAA Indoor Championship, with the DMR squad becoming the first in program history to earn points at the prestigious national meet. This performance highlights the Gamecocks' depth and talent, and sets them up for a potentially strong finish to the indoor season.