Men's Track & Field 2/15/2020 8:43:00 PM Romanda Noble-Watson, SID

Claflin Track and Field Set to Compete in 2020 CIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships

Orangeburg, SC – After showing improvement at each meet during the 2020 indoor track and field season, the Claflin University track and field teams are set to compete in the 2020 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Indoor Track and Field Championships.

The Championships are scheduled for Sunday-Monday, Feb. 16-17, at JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, NC. This year marks the 41st year the CIAA has sponsored Outdoor Track as a women's sport and the 44th for the men.
Claflin is competing in only its second CIAA Indoor Track and Field Championship. The Panthers joined the CIAA in July 2018.

This season the Claflin teams will head into the Championships under new tutelage in head coach Garon Jackson, who took over the reins of the program in the Fall.

"We have a very young team on both sides with limited amount of training (4 weeks)," Jackson said. "I do believe however the teams have gotten better and understands how to train and prepare for the Championship.

"On the women side, Faith McKie and Zaria Nelson are both very strong mentally and I expect them to lead the team. McKie is a very solid athlete and she is willing to do whatever it takes to represent Claflin and the program well," Jackson said.

Coach Jackson will rely on core group of sprinters to lead the Panthers into the Championships.

"The men's team will be led by sprinters Derick St. Jean, Davion McKnight-Allen and Ashtin Knowles, all who have championships and NCAA regional experience," said Jackson. "All three are focused on standing on the podium at the end of the day."

Going into the tournament with two young teams, Coach Jackson will be looking mainly for his team to compete hard.

"I'm looking for each team to go out this weekend and compete to the best of their abilities, gain confidence in their event areas, and make it back to Claflin University healthy," Jackson said.

The Championships will get underway at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. Live results will be available at SnapTiming.com.

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Players Mentioned

Davion McKnight-Allen: 5' 9"; Junior; Sprints

Derick St. Jean: 6' 1"; Freshman; Sprints

Faith McKie: 5' 9"; Junior; Sprints/Hurdles

Zaria Nelson: 5' 8"; Freshman; Throws

Ashtin Knowles: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Sprints

Players Mentioned

Davion McKnight-Allen
: 5' 9"; Junior; Sprints

Derick St. Jean
: 6' 1"; Freshman; Sprints

Faith McKie
: 5' 9"; Junior; Sprints/Hurdles

Zaria Nelson
: 5' 8"; Freshman; Throws

Ashtin Knowles
: 5' 11"; Sophomore; Sprints