Knuckles Named CIAA Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year
CHARLOTTE, NC - Claflin junior
Jhnyia Knuckles was named the 2025-26 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, Monday afternoon. After consistently leading the conference in the triple jump, she has was presented with the conference's top honor at the 2026 CIAA Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship Meet.
It was Knuckles' dominant performance throughout the 2025-26 indoor track & field season that earned her honor. For the entire season, she has been the top performer in the women's triple jump. She recorded her top mark of the season at the Carolina Classic where she recorded a 39' 8.5" (12.10m). The distance is currently the 18
th best in the nation. Her triple jump distance is also the second-best in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region. She is also recorded the seventh best distance in the women's long jump where she hit an 18' 0.5" (5.50m) mark.
With the honor, Knuckles became the first Claflin student-athlete to be named the CIAA Indoor Field Athlete of the Year and the first athlete of the year honor for Knuckles.
Knuckles will now turn her attention to the national stage where she looks to improve on her NCAA Division II qualifying performance and make her first trip to the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championship Meet.
For more information on Lady Panthers track & field, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to
www.athletics.claflin.edu.
