BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Clayton State men's track & field delivered a solid performance anchored by a first place outing in the 4x400 relay as the program kicked off the 2020 portion of the schedule at the Emory CrossPlex Showdown on Sunday, January 19. As a team they finished 9-of-14 with 29 points.
 
That headlining performance came from senior Chris Florence (Newnan, Ga.), sophomore Churchill Ezeokonkwo (Riverdale, Ga.), junior Courtland White (Rex, Ga.) and freshman Tylah Travis (McDonough, Ga.) as they placed 1-of-13 in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:24.66.
 
Both Florence and Travis would add Top-10 performances in the 400-meters with the senior placing 5-of-36 with a time of 50.54. Travis would be not far behind in eighth with a mark of 50.93. White would add a 10-of-35 outing in the 800-meters behind a time of 1:59.85.
 
Sophomore Janei Sewell (Wilmington, Del.) produced a pair of impressive performances, finishing 6-of-44 in the 200-meters (22.63) and 13-of-45 in the 60-meters (7.15) while sophomore Derrick Ward (Marietta, Ga.) placed 6-of-19 in the 60-meter hurdles at 8.84. Freshman Darryl Jefferson (Conyers, Ga.) rounded out the top performances with a 7-of-14 finish in the triple jump, notching a distance of 13.20-meters.
 
The Lakers will be back in action on the backside of this month as they head to the Carolina Challenge hosted by South Carolina from January 31 through February 1. A portion of the squad is also slated to go to the Tiger Indoor Invitational hosted by Sewanee on the latter date.
 
CLAYTON STATE MEN'S COMPETITORS (12)
Gyasi Cockrell – Mile (46-of-47, DNF), 4x400-meters-B (7-of-13, 3:31.25)
Zach Czerniak – 3,000-meters (25-of-30, 9:45.25)
Churchill Ezeokonkwo – 400-meters (22-of-36, 52.97), 4x400-meters-A (1-of-13, 3:24.66)
Chris Florence – 400-meters (5-of-36, 50.54), 4x400-meters-A (1-of-13, 3:24.66)
Michael Gray – 200-meters (27-of-44, 23.69), 4x400-meters-B (7-of-13, 3:31.25)
Darryl Jefferson – Long Jump (23-of-30, 5.74m), Triple Jump (7-of-14, 13.20m), 4x400-meters-B (7-of-13, 3:31.25)
James Kilgore – 800-meters (14-of-35, 2:02.91), 4x400-meters-B (7-of-13, 3:31.25)
Janei Sewell – 60-meters (13-of-45, 7.15), 200-meters (6-of-44, 22.63)
Tylah Travis – 400-meters (8-of-36, 50.93), 4x400-meters-A (1-of-13, 3:24.66)
Derrick Ward – 60-meter Hurdles (6-of-19, 8.84), 200-meters (29-of-44, 23.76)
Courtland White – 800-meters (10-of-35, 1:59.85), 4x400-meters-A (1-of-13, 3:24.66)
Abijah Wilcox – Long Jump (24-of-30, 5.69m), Triple Jump (12-of-14, 12.81m)