By CHARLENE SLAUGHTER

T&D Sports Editor

Derrick Harpe kicks a pebble around on the track and looks downward as he thinks back on his performance during his final collegiate meet last weekend.

He's not talkative, at least when it comes to his performance. He can be quiet, but is far from shy.

"It was good," he said. "I jumped my highest on turf, not the good tracks I've been getting. It was a PR (personal record) for the indoor season."

Harpe won first place in the high jump at the University of South Carolina's Gamecock Indoor Invitational on Feb. 17. His effort was one of four first-place showings for Claflin. Jeffery Jordan came in first in the 400-meter dash, Timothy Washington in the 800-meter run and the women's 4x400 meter relay team (Felicia Walters, Paula Alford, Courtney Thomas, Lakeya Sanders) also came in first.

"I did it for my mother because she was there," Harpe said of his win. "She drove two hours to get there and it only lasted 10 minutes."

"It was his final collegiate meet, and we will miss him," said Claflin track and field coach Jeffery Hughes. "He had been an absolute pleasure to coach."

Claflin does not get a break as the outdoor season began Saturday. They competed in their first meet at Fort Valley State. Hughes said he hopes the momentum from indoor will spill over into the outdoor season.

"We've been having a great season," Hughes said. "The outdoor season is starting; We're at Fort Valley State. It's been a good season. Claflin has been very well recognized. The caliber of meets has put Claflin out there in the track and field realm. Competing at New Balance (New York) and Arkansas were the highlights of the season. It's great for recruiting, too. Others see them competing in big Division I, high-profile meets.

"I have high expectations for the outdoor season and for this meet. I hope to go to into Fort Valley and pick up where we left off and not skip a beat."

Junior Jeffery Jordan said he went up against good competition at USC and was seeded in the fastest heat. He was glad to get the win in the final indoor meet, but is also looking forward to the outdoor season.

"I'm really excited for outdoor," he said. "I'm ready to see what we have, for a lot of us to show what we can do. I'm so excited and ready to get into it and see my teammates do well."

Hughes said Claflin's exposure will continue in the outdoor season with meets in Miami, at the Disney Relays and the Penn Relays. There are also some freshmen on the team who may qualify for the Junior Nationals.

"The kids are enjoying themselves," he said. "They are coming together as a team. Trying to get them to be like a family. They are coming along extremely well."

USC Gamecock Indoor Invitational (2-17-07)

Claflin University Top 10 Finishers

Derrick Harpe -- first place, high jump

Jeffrey Jordan -- first place, 400 meter dash

Timothy Washington -- first place, 800 meter run

Women's 4x400 meter relay -- first place, (Felicia Walters, Paula Alford, Courtney Thomas, Lakeya Sanders)

Paula Alford -- second place, 400 meter dash

Nicholas Ledbetter -- second place, men's high jump; second place, men's 800 meter run

Men's 4 x 400 meter relay -- second place

Aaron Dorn--Long -- fourth place, men's 400 meter dash; ninth, 55-meter dash

Richard Williams -- fifth place, men's 400 meter dash

Christopher Clark -- third place, men's mile run

Patrick McRay, fourth place, men's mile run

Courtney Thomas -- fourth, women's 400 meter dash

Khaneisha Pagan -- fourth, women's 55-meter hurdles

Francis Highland -- fifth, men's shot put

Lakeya Sanders -- fifth, women's 800 meter run

University of North Carolina Indoor Meet (2-9-07)

Claflin University Top 10 Finishers

Derrick Harpe -- first place, high jump; second, triple jump

Felicia Walters -- second, 200 meter dash; seventh, 60 meter dash

Courtney Thomas -- eighth, 200 meter dash

Kyle Vicks -- ninth, 200 meter dash

Jeffrey Jordan -- third, 400 meter dash

Delvon Benson -- 10th, 60 meter hurdles

Men's 4 x 400 meter relay -- second (Micholas Ledbetter, Jeffery Jordan, Timothy Washington, Marquise Mack)

Kieton Lashley, seventh, high jump

Christopher Davis -- ninth, triple jump.