Men's Track & Field | February 7, 2026

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Clayton State men's and women's track & field teams competed in the 2026 Carolina Classic on Friday and Saturday on the campus of the University of South Carolina.  The Lakers competed against various power four schools and some other great competition. 
 
FRIDAY ACTION
The Lakers started off with a bang on Friday afternoon.  In the 60m hurdles, Davonte Jackson advanced to the semifinals with a time of 8.55.  In the 60m dash, The Lakers then saw Marcus Robinson advance to the semifinals with a time of 6.91.  However, Robinson finished in 13^th in the semis and improved his time to 6.88.  That time is good for a new PR and a new school record.  The Lakers also saw a good showing in the 800m run as Nehemiah Horton set a new season best with a time of 1:56.57, finishing in 12^th overall.  Sancho Smith also turned a new season best with a time of 1:56.92, crossing the finish line in 14^th.  The Lakers then saw a standout performance in the 3K by Camron Gaddis, who finished third in the race with a time of 8:37.08.  Gaddis is only the second Laker to go sub 8:40.00 and is second all-time in the race.  Currently, Camron is ninth in the PBC in the event.  Action on the track concluded in the 400m dash as Santonio Rio paced a group of Lakers with a time of 51.27. 
 
On the women's side, the Lakers got a PR from Destiny Hanna who finished with a time of 7.85.  Hanna moved into third place in the event and second in the PBC.  Jada Jenkins finished with a time of 7.96, which ties her for fourth in the conference.  The 400m dash then saw Marley Tate take 11^th place with a time of 57.60, which would put her third all-time in school history and the fastest time in the Peach Belt this season.  She paced a group that included Mariah Handy (58.85), Ivorie Smith (59.75), and Zion Harris (59.82).  The Lakers came to run in the 400m dash this weekend. 
 
In the field, the Lakers saw a standout performance from Hailey Jackson-Morgan in the weight throw, finishing with a career best throw of 11.80m and found herself in seventh place overall.  In the men's triple jump, Jackson impressed once again and finished in sixth with a final distance of 14.40m. 
 
SATURDAY ACTION
Action on the track started in the 300m dash as Rohan Holness paced the group of Lakers with a final time of 36.31.  Then in the mile, Gaddis continues his hot meet as he ran the second fastest mile time in school history, clocking a time of 4:14.16 and finished in fifth overall.  That time is also good for fifth in the PBC.  Dixon finished ninth in the race.  In the 200m dash, Robinson paced the Lakers with a time of 22.28.  The 4x400m relay concluded action on the track as the team of Holness, Rio, Rakiem Barnes, and Robinson finished with a season-best time of 3:22.20, which is second in the PBC. 
 
Harris kicked off the Lakers on the right foot in the 300m dash as she finished in fifth with a PR time of 42.14.  Justice Lester finished in seventh in the race with a time of 42.91.  Jada Warren then followed that up with a season-best time of 5:50.95 in the mile run.  After Hanna paced the Lakers in the 200m dash, the Lakers finished out the meet with a PBC second best time in the 4x400m relay.  The team of Tate, Smith, Mariah Handy, and Harris clocked a time of 3:59.16. 
 
The Lakers were very active in the field events, on Saturday. Keira Davis finished eighth in the high jump with a final mark of 1.48m while Derrick White, on the men's side, finished with a final height of 1.82m.  In the long jump, Gabriella Lawrence finished with a final distance of 4.88m while Jackson turned in another stellar performance with a final mark of 6.63m.  White also PR'd in the event with 6.39m.  The Lakers concluded action in the field events in the shot put as Jackson-Morgan finished in ninth with a final mark of 10.23m.  Jacquelyn Johnson finished with a final distance of 9.88m in the event.   
 
Below are the top 15 performances for the Lakers at this meet:
*School Record

Athlete	Event	Place: Time/Mark
Marcus Robinson	60m dash (Semis) 4x400m relay	13th: 6.88* 10th: 3:22.2034
Davonte Jackson	60m hurdles (Prelims) Triple Jump Long Jump	15th: 8.55 6th: 14.40m 13th: 6.63m
Nehemiah Horton	800m run	12th: 1:56.57
Sancho Smith	800m run	14th: 1:56.92
Camron Gaddis	3000m run Mile run	3rd: 8:37.08 5th: 4:14.16
Emanuel Dixon	3000m run Mile run	6th: 9:14.57 9th: 4:30.14
Rohan Holness	300m dash 4x400m relay	10th: 36.31 10th: 3:22.20
Rakiem Barnes	300m dash 4x400m relay	11th: 36.69 10th: 3:22.20
Santonio Rio	300m dash 4x400m relay	12th: 36.83 10th: 3:22.20
Jada Warren	3000m run Mile run	8th: 11:30.39 7th: 5:50.95
Ziona Harris	300m dash 4x400m relay	5th: 42.14 8th: 3:59.16
Justice Lester	300m dash	7th: 42.91
Marley Tate	400m dash 4x400m relay	11th: 57.60 8th: 3:59.16
Ivorie Smith	4x400m relay	8th: 3:59.16
Mariah Handy	4x400m relay	8th: 3:59.16
Hailey Jackson-Morgan	Weight Throw Shot Put	7th: 11.80m 9th: 10.23m
Jacquelyn Johnson	Shot Put	11th: 9.88
Keira Davis	High Jump	8th: 1.48m
Derrick White	High Jump	12th: 1.82m
Gabriella Lawrence	Long Jump	14th: 4.88m

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers head back to Birmingham in their final tuneup before the Conference Meet as they compete in the Samford Bulldog Open on Sunday, February 14^th.  Please visit claytonstatesports.com for more information. 
 
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