ATLANTA, Ga. – Sophomore
Chris Florence (Newnan, Ga.) was a part of two impressive relay performances and delivered an individual top finish as Clayton State men's track & field dominated on the final day of the Emory Classic on Saturday, March 31. As a team they delivered a 7-of-23 finish.
Florence teamed with fellow sophomore
Tyler Askew (Columbus, Ga.), seniors
Rafael Salis (Atlanta, Ga.) and
Eric Williams (Fayetteville, Ga.) to deliver a first place finish in the 4x400-meters with a time of 3:18.87. Florence, Askew, and seniors
Adarion Watson (Stockbridge, Ga.) and
Eric Wells-Shiver (Cumming, Ga.) also posted a top five performance in the 4x100-meters, finishing 4-of-15 with a mark of 42.53.
The tremendous performances by Florence continued into his individual events as he excelled in the 400-meters. In that competition he finished 1-of-46 with a personal best of 49.56. Williams notched an 18-of-46 finish with a time of 51.63 while fellow senior
Kevin Otokore (Paris, France) finished 35-of-46 with a personal best of 55.39.
Junior
T.J. Witherspoon (Thomasville, Ga.) delivered an impressive performance in the 800-meters as he finished in third place with a PR of 1:53.18. After contributing to a pair of strong relay finishes, Askew finished in eighth place individually in the 200-meters while setting a personal best of 22.80.
Salis and sophomore
Keldren Reddick (Thomasville, Ga.) delivered a pair of strong performances in the 800-meters. The former finished 6-of-49 with a PR of 1:57.06 while Reddick came in in 10th at 1:58.67.
Additionally, Wells-Shiver delivered a pair of personal bests on the day. He finished 28-of-42 in the 100-meters (11.49) and came in 37-of-53 in the 200-meters (24.73).
Junior,
Ryan Polk (Marietta, Ga.) added a 30-of-68 finish in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:16.90 and sophomore
Evan Ortiz (McDonough, Ga.) and freshman
Riley Higginbotham (Locust Grove, Ga.) finished 33
rd (4:17.95) and 43
rd (4:23.80), respectively, in that same event. The latter was yet another personal best.
"Our best team showing in a couple of seasons," said head coach
Mike Mead. "Our relays are shaping up. Chris [Florence] and T.J. [Witherspoon] had productive performances."
The Lakers will be right back in action for a third straight weekend as they head to the Berry Invitational. A two-day event, that meet will run from April 6-7 in Rome, Georgia.
CLAYTON STATE MEN'S COMPETITORS (14)
Tyler Askew – 200-meters (8-of-53, 22.80), 4x100-meters (4-of-15, 42.53), 4x400-meters (1-of-16, 3:18.87)
Chevaun Blake – 100-meters (34-of-42, 11.86)
Jason Dang- 5,000-meters (23-of-26, 18:45.49)
Chris Florence – 400-meters (1-of-46, 49.56), 4x100-meters (4-of-15, 42.53), 4x400-meters (1-of-16, 3:18.87)
Riley Higginbotham – 1,500-meters (43-of-68, 4:23.80)
Evan Ortiz – 1,500-meters (33-of-68, 4:17.95)
Kevin Otokore – 400-meters (35-of-46, 55.39)
Ryan Polk – 1,500-meters (30-of-68, 4:16.90)
Keldren Reddick – 800-meters (10-of-49, 1:58.67)
Rafael Salis – 800-meters (6-of-49, 1:57.06), 4x400-meters (1-of-16, 3:18.87)
Adarion Watson – 100-meters (22-of-42, 11.31), 4x100-meters (4-of-15, 42.53)
Eric Wells-Shiver – 100-meters (28-of-42, 11.49), 200-meters (37-of-53, 24.73), 4x100-meters (4-of-15, 42.53)
Eric Williams – 400-meters (18-of-46, 51.63), 4x400-meters (1-of-16, 3:18.87)
T.J. Witherspoon – 800-meters (3-of-49, 1:53.18)
