COLUMBIA, SC (January 15, 2022) – The Claflin University men’s and women’s track & field teams showed a glimpse of what’s to come with some great performances at the 2022 Gamecock Opener, Saturday. The Lady Panthers and Panthers both put on some great performances and showed some terrific potential in their first indoor track & field meet of the season.
“We still need a lot of work coming off the holidays and only practicing a week so we can only improve from this point,” Claflin track & field head coach Geron Jackson said. “Our goal is to get everyone back and healthy so we can improve as a team.”
The Lady Panthers had some impressive performances both on the track and in field events as well. Junior sprinter Daje Bartley ran 1:05.37 in the women’s 400m dash to place 31st in the event. Her time also places her 11th in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA). In field events, freshman Morgan Beard led the way for the team with a 27’4.75″ (8.35m) throw in the women’s shot put. The effort placed her 11th in the CIAA in the event.
It was the young Panthers who took center stage for the Claflin men’s indoor track & field team. Freshman Jocolbi Morgan had the best individual performance for the team with some great showings in both the long jump and the sprint events. He opened the day with a 7.15 in the men’s 60m dash. The effort was enough for him to place 23rd overall in the event. It was also the 13th best time in the CIAA, and impressive accomplishment in his first collegiate meet. Morgan went on to place sixth in the men’s long jump with a 22’11.25″ (6.99m) showing in the event. His jump placed him second among CIAA jumpers thus far. Junior Jaiden Henderson also had a terrific performance at the meet when he placed ninth in the men’s 200m dash. He ran a 23.31 at the meet. The time was good enough to place him ninth among CIAA sprinters.
The Claflin track & field teams will return to action Friday, when they return to Columbia to take part in the Carolina Challenge, a two-day event.