DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Despite a small number of competitors on Day 1, Clayton State men's track & field made an impact on the opening day of the 2019 Peach Belt Conference Championships on Thursday, April 18.
 
Junior Chris Florence (Newnan, Ga.) headlined a group of five Lakers seeing action in a pair of events as he not only qualified for the 400-meter final, he did so as the top qualifier. Last year's national qualifier in that event showed he is ready to make a run at another berth in the NCAA Division II field as he posted a provisional time of 47.66 and finished 1-of-19.
 
He bested his next closest competitor by nearly eight tenths of a second and hit the provisional ahead of the mark of 47.77. Finishing in the top eight secures him a spot in the final at 12:25 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. It is familiar territory for Florence as he is the PBC's reigning champion in that event.
 
Freshmen Churchill Ezeokonkwo (Riverdale, Ga.) and Brian Sims, Jr. (Trussville, Ala.) finished 13^th (50.69) and 16^th (51.72), respectively, in the 400-meters while freshman Janei Sewell (Newnan, Ga.) was 12-of-22 (10.96) in the 100-meter preliminary. Senior Eric Wells-Shiver (Cumming, Ga.) rounded things out with a 19^th place finish in that event at 11.17.
 
Weather permitting, the 2019 Peach Belt Conference Championships continue tomorrow morning with Day 2 of competition. Current forecasts indicate severe thunderstorms and a 100-percent chance of rain throughout the day in the Daytona Beach area. Stay tuned to www.ClaytonStateSports.com for all updates concerning the championships.
 
CLAYTON STATE MEN'S COMPETITORS - THURSDAY, APRIL 18 (5)
Churchill Ezeokonkwo – 400-meters (13-of-19, 50.69)-Prelim
Chris Florence – 400-meters (1-of-19, 47.66)-Prelim-Q
Janei Sewell – 100-meters (12-of-22, 10.96)-Prelim
Brian Sims, Jr. – 400-meters (16-of-19, 51.72)-Prelim
Eric Wells-Shiver – 100-meters (19-of-22, 11.17)-Prelim