BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Junior Chris Florence (Newnan, Ga.), senior T.J. Witherspoon (Thomasville, Ga.) and the rest of the 4x400-meter relay anchored Clayton State men's indoor track & field's performance at the BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker on Friday, November 30. As a team they finished 10-of-23 with 18 points.
 
Witherspoon won the 800-meters ahead of 28 other competitors with a personal best time of 1:55.51, surpassing his previous mark of 1:56.10 set at the JDL Last Chance Invitational (2/25/18). Meanwhile Florence just missed his 400-meter PR by 0.02 seconds with a time of 49.68. That time was good for an 8-of-52 finish.
 
Both, along with freshmen Janei Sewell (Newnan, Ga.) and freshman Churchill Ezeokonkwo (Riverdale, Ga.), comprised a 4x400-meter relay that delivered a time of 3:23.40 for a 3-of-20 finish. That mark was a personal best for all four. Sewell would go on to add a 24-of-72 outing in the 60-meters (7.09) and a 33-of-61 performance in the 200-meters (23.26).
 
Senior Ryan Polk (Marietta, Ga.) added an 8-of-22 finish in the mile (4:33.71) while junior Evan Ortiz (McDonough, Ga.) wasn't far behind in 12^th with a mark of 4:39.45. Freshman Chad Williams (Tifton, Ga.) rounded out the top performances, coming in 13-of-28 in the shotput (12.37m).
 
Overall, Troy won the meet with 73 points, followed by Alabama State (68), Central Arkansas (57), Shorter (56) and Lee (50).
 
The Lakers will next be in action at the site of their opening meet, the Birmingham CrossPlex, but not until January 20. Then they will take part in the Emory CrossPlex Invitational.
 
CLAYTON STATE MEN'S COMPETITORS (12)
Na'im Allen – 800-meters (22-of-29, 2:06.26), 4x400-meters-B (13-of-20, 3:39.78)
Malachi Culbreth – 60-meters (66-of-72, 7.57), 200-meters (57-of-61, 25.21), 4x400-meters-B (13-of-20, 3:39.78)
Churchill Ezeokonkwo – 400-meters (29-of-52, 52.61), 4x400-meters-A (3-of-20, 3:23.40)
Chris Florence – 400-meters (8-of-52, 49.68), 4x400-meters-A (3-of-20, 3:23.40)
Michael Gray – 400-meters (36-of-52, 53.39), 4x400-meters-B (13-of-20, 3:39.78)
Evan Ortiz – Mile (12-of-22, 4:39.45)
Ryan Polk – Mile (8-of-22, 4:33.71)
Janei Sewell – 60-meters (24-of-72, 7.09), 200-meters (33-of-61, 23.26), 4x400-meters-A (3-of-20, 3:23.40)
Derrick Ward – 60-meter Hurdles (13-of-20, 9.12), 4x400-meters-B (13-of-20, 3:39.78)
Eric Wells-Shiver – 60-meters (52-of-72, 7.36), 200-meters (51-of-61, 24.56)
Chad Williams – Shotput (13-of-28, 12.37m)
T.J. Witherspoon – 800-meters (1-of-29, 1:55.51), 4x400-meters-A (3-of-20, 3:23.40)