Men's Cross Country | August 4, 2023

MORROW, Ga. – Head Clayton State University Cross Country Coach Troy Hickom adds six newcomers to the team for the 2023 season.  Coach Hickom landed four newcomers on the men's team while adding a pair of runners to the women's team.
 
"This season is ramping up to be quite special with our main core returning, led by our team captains Camron {Gaddis} and Tanaeya {Johnson}," said Coach Hickom. "Tanaeya, our most experienced individual, steps into a leadership role for the first time and is slated for a breakout season. Camron, albeit young for a captain, has shown huge potential through his work ethic, and performed exceptionally well last track season.  We look forward to carrying that momentum into this season."
 
Coach Hickom continues, "with these two at the helm, the addition of talented individuals, and our young core, I fully expect a competitive and exciting season. We will miss the presence of Coach Mead, his wit, experience, and hardworking demeanor will be hard to replicate or replace, but I am determined to fill the void and continue to build upon the legacy that he leaves behind."
 
MEN'S TEAM
Coach Hickom welcomes four freshmen runners to the team this season.  Headlining the new crop of runners is Danny Ortega.  Ortega, who attended Charles Drew HS in Riverdale, Ga., broke the Clayton County XC record with a time of 16:58, which was good for top-15 in the region and top-50 in Georgia, as a senior.  In the same season, Ortega earned the win in all six of his meets.  Overall, Danny was a three-time All-County and two-time All-Region selection.  Following Ortega is Nevin Swanson.  Swanson, who is a native of Douglas, Ga., is four-time state qualifier in cross country.  He also earned the victory in the cross country regional meet as a junior.  On the track side, Swanson is a two-time State qualifier and regional champion.
 
Following Swanson is Mykell Strickland.  Strickland, who attended Calloway HS in Hogansville, Ga., was a three-time individual winner in cross country including winning the Troup County Meet.  On the track side, Strickland was a three-time winner, earned the Mileage Award as a junior, and captained the team.  As a junior, his 4x800 meter relay team broke the school record.  Rounding out the newcomers is Nehemiah Horton.  Horton, who is a native of Lumberton, N.C., is multiple time state finisher in track & field.  He was also a multiple time runner up in the sectional meet.   Horton was also involved with the junior ROTC and ran club at the Lane 4 Track Club.   
 
WOMEN'S TEAM
Coach Hickom welcomes Mesa Community College transfer Story Alexander to the team this season.  Alexander, who was teammates with current Laker runner Tanaeya Johnson at Mesa CC, is a two-time qualifier for the NJCCA Championships finishing 45^th in 2021 and finishing 16^th in 2022.  In addition, Alexander saw her best 5K time come at the Vaquera CAMPY Invite with a time of 19:38.3.  Story is also a two-time All-Conference and All-Region selection. Hickom also adds track & field standout Mikayla Osborne to the team.  Osborne, who is Houston, Texas native, is a two-time Peach Belt Conference (PBC) all-conference selection and was a part of the 4x200 meter relay team that broke the school record at the KMS Invitational (1/22/2023) with a final time of 1:47.25. 
 
RETURNERS
In his first season at the helm, Coach Hickom takes over for Coach Mike Mead, who retired after starting the program in the Fall of 1995.  Returning for the Lakers on the men's side is Camron Gaddis, Sancho Smith, and Rakiem Barnes.  Gaddis led the Lakers in a pair of races last season including The Asics XC Invitational and the D2 Festival Year Showcase.  Gaddis also finished in the top 15 in the Coach Gary Wilson Invitational.  He was only one of three runners to finish in the top-15 individually on the season.  A native of Bermuda, Smith also had a good 2022 season.  Smith saw a pair of top-35 finishes including crossing the finish line in 28^th place at the Gary Wilson Invitational. 
 
Rounding out the impactful returners is Rakiem Barnes. Barnes finished first or second on the team in three of the four races that he competed in, and he earned the best finish by any Laker on the season at the Gary Wilson Invitational placing 11^th.  Coach Hickom also returns Kharyi Davis, Lance Little and Terry Mitchner to the team this season. 
 
On the women's side, Coach Hickom returns the top three runners from the 2022 season in Jada Warren, Tanaeya Johnson, and Ahlana Failey. Warren, who finished first on the team in all five meets, saw her best finish come in the UNG Invitational when she crossed the finish line in ninth place.   In that meet, Warren ran the 20^th fastest time at the 5k distance in school history with a time of 19:46.0.  At the PBC Championships, she finished in 21^st place and led the Lakers to a sixth-place finish.  Johnson and Failey were also instrumental in the success of the team as they followed Warren in all five meets.  Both athletes finished second or third on the team in each of the five meets.  Also returning for the Lakers are Kalkidan Hawkins, Ivorie Smith, and JaBresha Palmer. 
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Laker cross country teams open the season on Friday, September 8^th as they both travel to Milledgeville, Ga. to compete in the 5^th Annual GMC Brickyard Invitational.  The men's 8K race will start at 5:45 p.m. followed by the women's 5K race at 6:45 p.m. Please visit claytonstatesports.com for the most updated information as the meet gets closer. 
 
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