Romanda Noble-Watson, Claflin U. SID
Columbia, S.C. (Apr. 13, 2019) – With just over two weeks remaining before heading to their first-ever Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the men’s and women’s track and field teams continued to improve Saturday (Apr. 13), when they competed among a field of over 1,000 student-athletes from the NCAA Division I, II, and III ranks as well as the NAIA and the NJCAA, at the USC Gamecock Invitational hosted by the University of South Carolina on Saturday, Apr. 13.
The Claflin men saw two school records fall at the meet. Junior Davion McKnight-Allen ran a school record 21.11 in the 200 meters for a 20th place finish out of 49 total competitors. McKnight-Allen also clocked a 10.50 in the 100 meters to finish 21st out of 78 athletes.
Domenic Samuel broke his own school record in the 800 meters with a time of 1:52.34 to win his heat and finish seventh overall.
Derick St. Jean continued to be impressive during the outdoor season, running a personal best of 46.77 to finish sixth in the 400 meters. St. Jean ran a 21.26 in the 200 meters.
The Claflin women were led by freshman Ty’Sha Hamon-Dubose who ran a personal best in the 400 meters at 58.80 which drops more than a half second off her previous 400 meter time (58.11). Hamon-Dubose also ran solid in the 200 meters clocking a 25.21.
The Lady Panthers also received solid performances from Kiara Belton in the 100 meters (12.10-24th), Daija Pegues (59.68) in the 400, as well as from Shamiah McKinney and Destiny Hall who both ran personal bests in the 800 meters.
Zaria Nelson continued to lead the Claflin women in the field finishing seventh in both the shot put with a distance of 11.66 (38.03-25) and discus with a throw of 40.47 (132-09).
Both Panther teams will take time off to train before heading to the CIAA Championships which is scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, May 4-5, at Bowie State University in Bowie, Md.
