Jermaine Clayton Receives Second Straight PSAC Weekly Award

IUP senior Jermaine Clayton has been named the PSAC Field Athlete of the Week for the second straight time after turning in a dominating performance in the long jump at the Western Pennsylvania Championships hosted by Carnegie Mellon on Saturday.

Clayton (Blairsville/Derry) had a top leap of 24 feet, 9 ¼ inches to break an 18-year-old IUP record in the event.  He also set a meet and stadium record while moving into third place in the nation.  Clayton broke the IUP mark of 23-11 held by Eric Vassal since 1988 by almost a foot.

In addition to leading the PSAC in the long jump, Clayton paces the conference in the 100 meters and is third in the 200 meters and the triple jump.  He also holds the school record in the triple jump with a personal best of 47-9 at the PSAC indoor meet in February. 

Clayton is attempting to earn a trip to nationals in the long jump for the second time this year.  After finishing second at the PSAC indoor meet in the event, he qualified for the NCAA championships and placed 14^th.

The IUP track and field teams are back in action on Saturday at the PSAC West Challenge hosted by California.