Women's Cross Country | October 21, 2023

GAINESVILLE, Ga. – The Clayton State University cross country teams competed in the 2023 Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Cross Country Championships on Saturday morning.  The Laker women's team finished sixth and the men's team finished in fifth place. 
 
WOMEN'S RACE
Leading the charge for the Laker women's team was Jada Warren.  Warren placed in 23^rd after running the 13^th fastest time in school history.  Jada clocked a final time of 19:13.1, beating her season PR by nearly 10 seconds. Following Warren in her first Championship was Story Alexander.  Alexander finished in 34^th place with a final time of 19:29.4.  Following Story was Tanaeya Johnson and JaBresha Palmer.  Johnson, who crossed the finish line in 45^th place, clocked a time of 20:05.2 while Palmer finished in 59^th place with a time of 21:14.3.
 
Rounding out the final two runners for the Lakers were Ivorie Smith and Ahlana Failey.  Smith and Failey finished in 60^th and 61^st place, respectively.  The Laker women finished in sixth place after they were picked to finish in the same place in the PBC Preseason Poll earlier in the season.   Last season, the Lakers also finished in sixth place.   
 
Below are the full women's Championship Standings:

1. Flagler: 19 points
2. North Georgia: 53 points
3. Augusta: 79 points
4. Georgia College & State: 103 points
5. Columbus State: 167 points
6. Clayton State: 168 points
7. USC Aiken: 181 points
8. Lander: 243 points
9. USC Beaufort: 254 points
10. Georgia Southwestern: 310 points

 
Below is the full list of Laker runners:
23^rd: Jada Warren: 19:13.1
34^th: Story Alexander: 19:29.4
45^th: Tanaeya Johnson: 20:05.2
59^th: JaBresha Palmer: 21:14.3
60^th: Ivorie Smith: 21:15.9
61^st: Ahlana Failey: 21:20.5
 
MEN'S RACE
Leading the charge for the Laker men's team was Camron Gaddis.  Gaddis, who has led the Lakers in all races this season, finished with a time of 27:35.4 and finished in 40^th place.  Rakiem Barnes followed close behind, crossing the finish line in 45^th place with time of 27:57.3.  Nevin Swanson and Nehemiah Horton finished third and fourth on the team.  Swanson and Horton crossed the finish line in 55^th and 60^th place clocking times of 29:03.3 and 29:37.2, respectively.  Khayri Davis rounded out the top five on the team with a 62^nd place finish.  Davis crossed the line with a time of 29:53.2. 
 
The Laker men's team finished in fifth place, and they were picked to finish in the same place in the PBC Preseason Poll earlier in the season.  The fifth-place finish is the best team finish for the Lakers since 2020 and 2012 when those teams also finished fifth. 
 
Below are the full men's Championship Standings:

1. Augusta: 22 points
2. Flagler: 34 points
3. Columbus State: 102 points
4. Georgia College & State: 115 points
5. Clayton State: 168 points
6. Lander: 174 points
7. USC Aiken: 200 points
8. USC Beaufort: 205 points
9. Georgia Southwestern: 286 points

 
Below is the full list of Laker runners:
40^th: Camron Gaddis: 27:35.4
45^th: Rakiem Barnes: 27:57.3
55^th: Nevin Swanson: 29:03.3
60^th: Nehemiah Horton: 29:37.2
62^nd: Khayri Davis: 29:53.2
67^th: Danny Ortega: 30:29.1
69^th: Lance Little: 30:50.9
73^rd: Mykell Strickland: 31:19.8
 
PBC ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM

• The PBC announced on Friday evening that Story Alexander was selected to represent the Clayton State University women's team on the All-Sportsmanship team. 
• Nehemiah Horton was the Clayton State University men's team All-Sportsmanship team representative. 

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Laker cross country teams conclude its seasons on Saturday, November 4^th as they compete in the 2023 NCAA Southeast Regional Meet in Gainesville, Ga.  The meet hosted by the University of North Georgia will start at 10 a.m. with the women's 6k race while the men's 10k race will start at 11:15 a.m.
 
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