Date Posted: 4/9/2008

MACON, Ga. - Kennesaw State's Jerome McKinzie cleared a height of 6-10.75 (2.10m) in the high jump to take first place at the 64th annual Pepsi Florida Relays this past weekend on his way to winning the Atlantic Sun Men's Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week Award, the conference announced on Wednesday.

A sophomore communications major from Marietta, Ga., McKinzie emerged from a field of more than 30 competitors. The victory at Gainesville marks McKinzie’s third-straight first-place finish of the season and his second regional qualifying effort in the event. He first met the regional qualification standard at the Clemson Relays on March 23, when he won the event by clearing the same height he cleared this weekend. At the Alabama Relays on March 31, McKinzie won his second high jump event of the season after clearing 6-08.75 (2.05m).

McKinzie entered the outdoor season fresh off of a gold medal-performance in the high jump at the 2008 Atlantic Sun Indoor Track and Field Championships. There, he cleared a conference-record 6-08.25 (2.04m). He also holds the most recent title outdoors after winning the 2007 in his freshman year with a jump of 6-08.50 (2.05m).

The Atlantic Sun Conference is a 12-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Gardner-Webb University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performer:

Tyler Howell, BEL (Jr. - Thrower - Mass Communications - Chattanooga, Tenn.) - Won the hammer throw and placed third in the shot put at the Austin Peay Invitational.

Related Links:
 • A-Sun Men's Outdoor Track & Field