Men's Cross Country | September 8, 2023

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The Clayton State University men's and women's cross country teams kicked off its 2023 season at the 5^th Annual GMC Brickyard Invitational at Council Farms on Friday evening.  The Laker women's team picked up the meet win with 46 points while Jada Warren and Tanaeya Johnson placed first and second individually.  The men's team finished fourth of 11 teams with 106 points.
 
This is the first time since 2018 that a Laker women's cross country team won a meet, and this also marks the first collegiate victory for first-year head coach Troy Hickom. 


WOMEN'S RACE
Warren beat out 83 other runners to win her first career collegiate meet.  The Milledgeville, Ga. native crossed the finish line with a time of 21:30.30.  Coming in second place was Tanaeya Johnson.  Johnson clocked a final time of 21:43.80.  The Lakers were not finished yet as newcomer Story Alexander finished in sixth place with a time of 22:32.00. Finishing in fourth for the Lakers is Ahlana Failey.  The Laker sophomore clocked a final time of 24:03.00 and finished in 16^th place.  JaBresha Palmer rounds out the top five finishers for Clayton State with a 24^th place finish with a time of 24:55.50. 
 
Below are the full standings:

1. Clayton State: 46
2. Truett McConnell: 67
3. Emmanuel (Ga.): 72
4. Albany State: 93
5. Marion Military: 131
6. Agnes Scott: 147
7. Clark Atlanta: 167
8. Middle Georgia: 180
9. Georgia Military: 256
10. Central Georgia: 281
11. Georgia Southwestern: 289
12. ABAC: 294

 
Below are the full list of the finishers for Clayton State:
1^st: Jada Warren: 21:20.30
2^nd: Tanaeya Johnson: 21:43.80
6^th: Story Alexander: 22:32.00
16^th: Ahlana Failey: 24:03.00
24^th: JaBresha Palmer: 24:55.50
26^th: Ivorie Smith: 25:10.80
29^th: Mikayla Osborne: 26:18.50
43^rd: Brianna Eggleston: 28:52.20


MEN'S RACE
Leading the Lakers in their opening meet was Camron Gaddis.  Gaddis, a sophomore from Lawrenceville, Ga., finished 10^th with a final time of 28:35.60. Following close behind was Rakiem Barnes, Nevin Swanson and Sancho Smith.  Barnes finished in 14^th place with a final time of 29:37.80, while Swanson, in his first collegiate race, finished in 26^th place with a time of 31:27.40.  Smith then finished in 27^th place with a time of 31:36.50.  Kharyi Davis and rounded out the top five finishers for the Lakers.  Davis crossed the finish line in 32^nd place with a time of 31:55.50. 
 
Below are the full team standings:

1. Reinhardt: 31
2. Marion Military: 81
3. Morehouse: 82
4. Clayton State: 106
5. Truett McConnell: 140
6. Georgia Military: 167
7. Emmanuel (Ga.): 168
8. ABAC: 184
9. Clark Atlanta: 228
10. Georgia Southwestern: 295
11. Central Georgia: 329

 
Below are the full list of finishers for Clayton State:
10^th: Camron Gaddis: 28:35.60
14^th: Rakiem Barnes: 29:37.80
26^th: Nevin Swanson: 31:27.40
27^th: Sancho Smith: 31:36.50
32^nd: Kharyi Davis: 31:55.50
34^th: Nehemiah Horton: 32:05.40
42^nd: Terry Mitchner: 33:53.40
47^th: Mykell Strickland: 34:70.30
57^th: Daniel Ortega: 35:46.90
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers travel down to Macon, Ga. for the Julius Johnson Invitational, hosted by Mercer University, on Saturday, September 16^th.  The men's race begins at 7:45 a.m. while the women's race begins at 8:30 a.m. Please visit claytonstatesports.com for the most updated information.
 
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