Men's Track & Field | December 5, 2024

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Clayton State University track & field teams are set to kick off their 2024-25 season at the Birmingham Indoor Icebreaker on Friday morning at the Birmingham CrossPlex.  Head Coach Christopher Brown, Oly. Is looking to capitalize on success that his team had last season. 
 
COACH BROWN'S THOUGHTS
"This is a new team, and we have a lot of young folks and a lot of experience," said Coach Brown, Oly. "I am looking for the newcomers and returners to come in, execute their race plans, and beat their personal best (PB). The team is ready to go, and I am excited about this upcoming season."
 
RECAP OF LAST YEAR
The Lakers are coming off an excellent 2023-24 season. The women's team finished second in the.2024 PBC Outdoor Championships which is the highest finish that a Laker track & field team has finished in program history.  The men's team finished fourth in the championships. Coach Brown saw Ariyonna Jones earn All-Region honors in both the indoor and outdoor season.  The Lakers saw a lot of success from up and down the lineup last season.  They are looking to bring that success into the 2024-25 season. 
 
IMPACT RETURNERS
 
"I am excited to see what our returners can do after coming off such a great season last year. Davonte Jackson and Kelvin Oppong are back this season, and they have been training well and are in good spirits.  I expect them to have breakout seasons for our program."    
 
The Lakers are led by returners Davonte Jackson and Kelvin Oppong on the men's side and Jada Jenkins and Story Alexander leads the women's team.  Jackson and Oppong have gathered several accolades including five all-conference honors and a school record falling.  The Lakers are also going to look to Camron Gaddis, Rakiem Barnes and Freddie Hawkins to also breakout this season.  Gaddis and Barnes are coming off a successful cross country season while Hawkins is not far off the school's high jump record. 
 
On the women's side, Jenkins is coming off her best season where she recorded five new personal bests and was a part of the team who broke the school record in the indoor 4x200 meter relay.  Coach Brown is looking for Jenkins to be a leader for this women's squad.  Alexander is coming off an excellent cross country season and she is looking to make an impact on the track for the Lakers.  
 
NEWCOMERS
 
"A couple of newcomers from the women's side that I look to make an impact are Destiny Hanna, Peyton Knowles, and Ziona Harris.  On the men's side, I see Rohan Holness, Christian Wilshire and Isaiah Prince-Oyakhire to make immediate impacts.  The chemistry has been very good with the team, and I am excited to see what these athletes do for our program this season. "
 
Leading the way for the newcoming class on the men's side is Rohan Holness, Christian Wiltshire, and Isiah Prince-Oyakhire. Holness ran for four seasons at Luella HS and made the GHSA Track & Field State Championships in his senior season.  He ran in the 400m and in the 4x400 and 4x200 meter relays.  Rohan ran club for Solar Elite Athletics.  Wiltshire is a native of Ledyard, Connecticut and has made multiple State Championships in the high, long, and triple jumps.  Isiah, like Holness, made the GHSA State Championships in 400m and in the 4x400 meter relay.  These three can change the dynamic for the Lakers this season. 
 
Leading the way for the women is Peyton Knowles, Destiny Hanna, and Ziona Harris.  Knowles, who comes to Morrow from the Bahamas, has a very bright future as she also competes for the Bahamas at the national level in the 100m and the 200m dashes.  Hanna, who is a transfer from Brewton-Parker College, was an NAIA National qualifier in the 100m and 200m dashes.  She also competed in the long jump at BPC.  Harris also transferred from Brewton-Parker and was also very successful in her two seasons competing there.  Coach Brown will also look for Marley Tate, who had an outstanding cross country season, to make an immediate impact. 
 
COACHING STAFF
Coach Christopher Brown, Oly. returns for his seventh season as the head track & field coach for the Lakers.  He brings back head cross country and assistant track & field coach Troy Hickom for his second season added former Laker student-athlete Syralinda Kamera to coach the jumping events. 
 
Please visit claytonstatesports.com for the most updated information on Clayton State University Athletics and be sure to follow Clayton State Athletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.