Men's Cross Country | September 1, 2023

MORROW, Ga. – Clayton State University Director of Athletics Jermaine Rolle announces the hiring of Troy Hickom as the head men's and women's Cross Country Coach. Coach Hickom will also serve as the Assistant Track & Field Coach working with the distance runners. 
 
"We are excited to have Troy as our Head Men's and Women's Cross Country coach!" said Director of Atheltics Jermaine Rolle. "Troy exemplifies a passion for and a commitment of Clayton State Athletics and cross country, rooted in his time as a Laker student-athlete.  I look forward to the continued growth and success of our cross country programs under Troy's leadership."
 
Coach Hickom was hired in the Spring as an Assistant Track & Field coach working specifically with the distance runners.   Hickom is at the helm of the program after Coach Mike Mead announced his retirement earlier this year.  Coach Mead led the team since the program's inception in 1995. 
 
"I would first like to thank Jermaine Rolle and the current athletic staff for entrusting me with this position, and I look forward to working together to ensure the success of Laker Athletics," said coach Hickom. "I owe a great deal of gratitude to my previous mentors, David Matherne, Ayrton Azcue, Ciaran Lane, and Hugh Toro; these coaches were very influential in my life and helped to craft my athletic ability and personal philosophy through their own unique ways. This impact has undoubtedly driven my career choice to follow in their footsteps."
 
Hickom continues, "To Coach Brown, I look forward to further building our program together, and I truly appreciate his support and guidance during this transition. Lastly, to Coach Mead, it isn't easy to describe his impact in short form. His dedication to the institution, athletes, and community is unmatchable. I am forever thankful for the relationship that we were able to create through thick and thin, I always knew that we could depend upon each other. To become just the second Head Cross Country Coach at Clayton State is truly a dream made real. I am excited to meet the challenge head-on and hope to build upon the legacy Coach Mead leaves behind. Go Lakers!"
 
Under the direction of Hickom, there were four school records that fell including Tanaeya Johnson in the 3k steeplechase, which she broke at the PBC Championships.  The other records include Sancho Smith in the 600m run, Camron Gaddis in the 1000m run, and Darryl Jefferson in the 500m run. His distance runners were also a key aspect of the Laker men's track & field team as they finished on the podium for the first time in program history at the PBC Outdoor Championships with a third-place finish, while the ladies finished in fourth. 
 
Troy is very familiar with Clayton State after running track & field and cross country from 2013-17 and served as a Graduate Assistant for Coach Mead from 2017-2020.  In his four-year career as a Laker, He was selected as a PBC Team of Academic Distinction honoree a total of five times, three in cross country and two in outdoor track & field. This is a not an honor that is available until a student-athlete reaches sophomore standing and he accomplished that feat every season he was eligible. The PBC does not sponsor indoor track & field and Hickom did not compete in track & field as a senior.  In his 25 meets competed in, between track and cross country, Hickom totaled a first-place finish, and three runners-up finishes and is currently 15^th in program history in the 8K with a final time of 26:21.6. 
 
The Laker cross country team kicks off the 2023 season at the 5^th Annual Georgia Military College Brickyard Invitational on Friday September 8^th.  The men's 8k race is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. while the women's 5k race is scheduled for 6:45 p.m.
 
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