COLUMBIA, S.C. – Clayton State women's indoor track & field notched a number of impressive performances on the opening day of the Carolina Challenge as they went against a number of Division I programs on Friday, February 1.

Taking on the likes of Charlotte, Georgia Southern, South Carolina, Tennessee, Winthrop, South Carolina State, UNC Asheville, Central Florida, Auburn and The Citadel, the Lakers did more than just hold their own as they kept up with those DI programs and stayed ahead of a number of their DII counterparts.

Junior Nia Elmore (Hinesville, Ga.) would continue what has already been a strong campaign as she came in 9-of-84 in the 60-meters (7.82), just missing qualifying for the final. Six of the eight finishers in front of her were from Division I and she beat 24 from that level.
 
That would not be the most impressive performance, however, as she teamed with junior Jasmine Radford (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and sophomores Corta'Nasha Mutcherson (Savannah, Ga.) and Chaviya Jackson (Albany, Ga.) to lead the 4x400-meter relay to a record setting time.

Finishing 7-of-17, that group produced a time of 4:04.75, bettering the 2009 mark of 4:04.77 set by Keisha Etienne, Masiah Hutchinson, Kara Stokes and Adrianne Turner by just 0.02.
 
Senior Carla Catala Martin (Barcelona, Spain) obliterated her personal-best in the 3,000-meters by nearly 12 seconds as she posted a 12-of-47 finish, registering a time of 10:45.60. Of the 11 individuals in front of her, all but one hailed from Division I programs and eight competitors from that level would fall in behind her.
 
Senior Destiny Johnson (New Iberia, La.) would be just as impressive as she earned a 9-of-30 finish in the high jump (1.52m). That performance was good for the top DII finish and she placed ahead of nine DI student-athletes.
 
Mutcherson would add a 46-of-119 performance in the 400-meters (58.70) while Jackson came in 66^th (1:00.81) in that event. Freshman Kiara Green (Ty Ty, Ga.) added a 19-of-42 outing in the shotput (10.44m) and junior Shockera Betty (Tallahassee, Fla.) placed 21-of-38 in the long jump with a mark of 5.09-meters to round out the top performances.
 
Clayton State wraps up the final day of the Carolina Challenge on Saturday, February 2. A limited field will see action as things kick off at 10 a.m.
 
CLAYTON STATE WOMEN'S COMPETITORS – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1 (11)
Na'ilah Allen – Mile (45-of-58, 5:49.88)
Shockera Betty – Long Jump (21-of-38, 5.09m)
Carla Catala Martin – 3,000-meters (12-of-47, 10:45.60)
Nia Elmore – 60-meters (9-of-84, 7.82), 4x400-meters (7-of-17, 4:04.75)
Stephanie Escobar – 3,000-meters (34-of-47, 12:00.31)
Sierra Glenn – 400-meters (75-of-119, 1:01.94)
Kiara Green – Shotput (19-of-42, 10.44m)
Chaviya Jackson – 400-meters (66-of-119, 1:00.81), 4x400-meters (7-of-17, 4:04.75)
Destiny Johnson – Triple Jump (Foul), High Jump (9-of-30, 1.52m)
Corta'Nasha Mutcherson – 400-meters (46-of-119, 58.70), 4x400-meters (7-of-17, 4:04.75)
Jasmine Radford – 400-meters (98-of-119, 1:05.98), 4x400-meters (7-of-17, 4:04.75)