BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Senior Kanei Kelly (Locust Grove, Ga.) came through with a record setting performance as Clayton State men's track & field took on a BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker field that was stacked with Division I talent on Friday, December 1.
 
In an event that has been dominated by teammate and fellow senior Andrew Omoregbe (Stockbridge, Ga.), Kelly delivered a tremendous effort in the high jump. After purposely passing on the first four heights, he would clear each of the next four on his first jump, eventually reaching 1.95-meters.
 
It would take two attempts, but he would make history at the next height as he cleared a program record 2.00-meters. He surpasses Omoregbe's mark of 1.96-meters that he set on February 5, 2017 at the South Alabama Jaguar Invitational. Kelly would finish 2-of-8, falling to the runner-up spot only because Kaleb Clark of William Carey cleared the height on his first attempt.
 
Sophomore Chris Florence (Newnan, Ga.) was not far behind as he put forth a strong effort in the 400-meters, running a personal best 49.66 to win the event ahead of 35 other competitors. That time bettered his previous mark of 50.72 set at the South Alabama Jaguar Invitational. He would go on to add a 17-of-36 outing in the 200-meters (22.74).
 
Sophomore Tyler Askew (Columbus, Ga.) produced a personal best time of 50.83 to finish 9-of-36 in the 400-meters while senior Eric Williams (Fayetteville, Ga.) was 15^th with a time of 51.40. Junior T.J. Witherspoon (Thomasville, Ga.) added a 6-of-25 performance in the 800-meters, just missing a PR with a time of 1:58.02, and posted a 13-of-29 outing in the mile (4:35.53).
 
The Lakers are now off until the 2018 portion of the schedule when they head back to Birmingham for the Emory CrossPlex Invitational on January 21.
 
CLAYTON STATE MEN'S COMPETITORS (11)
Tyler Askew – 200-meters (23-of-36, 23.17), 400-meters (9-of-36, 50.83), 4x400-meters (10-of-17, 3:32.53)
Jay Cunningham – 60-meters (34-of-37, 7.41), Long Jump (16-of-17, 5.78m)
Zach Czerniak – 3,000-meters (24-of-26, 10:06.55)
Jason Dang – 3,000-meters (25-of-26, 10:21.26)
Chris Florence – 200-meters (17-of-36, 22.74), 400-meters (1-of-36, 49.66)
Riley Higginbotham – Mile (28-of-29, 5:01.11), 4x400-meters (10-of-17, 3:32.53)
Kanei Kelly – High Jump (2-of-8, 2.00m)*
Evan Ortiz – Mile (23-of-29, 4:44.02)
Ryan Polk – 3,000-meters (18-of-26, 9:22.61)
Eric Williams – 400-meters (15-of-36, 51.40), 4x400-meters (10-of-17, 3:32.53)
T.J. Witherspoon – Mile (13-of-29, 4:35.53), 800-meters (6-of-25, 1:58.02), 4x400-meters (10-of-17, 3:32.53)
*Program Record