Lady Panthers Get Fast Start to 2024-25 Season at Liberty Kick Off
LYNCHBURG, VA - The Claflin University men's and women's indoor track & field teams wasted little time in getting a strong start to the 2024-25 season. The team put on some impressive performances at the Liberty Kick Off, the first meet of the season for the two teams.
The Panthers set the tone with some great efforts on the track. Junior sprinter Jonathan Flemister got things started when he ran a 6.80 in the men's 60m dash to place second in the event. The time was an NCAA Division II provisional qualifying time and his personal best. Senior Romar Stapleton joined him as an NCAA Division II provisional qualifier when he ran a 6.81 to place fourth at the meet. The Panthers' 4x400m relay team continued to impress as they won the event at the meet with a 3:13.74, also an NCAA Division II provisional qualifying time.
The Lady Panthers were not to be outdone with some great efforts of their own as well. Claflin freshman
Morgan Coverson-Springs placed fifth in the women's 60m hurdles with an 8.73. The time was also an NCAA Division II provisional qualifying time as well. Sophomore
Marlayna McBride led the Lady Panthers' field efforts with a ninth place finish in the women's high jump where she recorded a 5'1" (1.55m) leap. Fellow sophomore Jhynia Knuckles added an 11
th place finish in the women's long jump where she recorded a 17'2.25" (5.24m) jump.
The Claflin men's and women's indoor track & field teams will return to action in the new year when they head to nearby Columbia, South Carolina to take part in the Gamecock Opener. For more information on Lady Panthers and Panthers track & field, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to
www.athletics.claflin.edu.
