February 4, 2017

Stepp leads a Saturday of four Eagle top-10 finishers in split action

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.— The Carson-Newman track and field team wrapped up a busy week of competition Saturday afternoon as five Eagles competed in the 200 meter dash at the Camel City Invitational in Winston Salem, N.C. while the rest took part in events at the David E. Walker Kickoff Classic in the Tri-Cities.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.— The Carson-Newman track and field team wrapped up a busy week of competition Saturday afternoon as five Eagles competed in the 200 meter dash at the Camel City Invitational in Winston Salem, N.C. while the rest took part in events at the David E. Walker Kickoff Classic in the Tri-Cities.

"There are certain things that we are really pleased with from today. Tanner's jump was really good and he was really close to gaining another mark," coach David Needs said. "We feel good about what waas done today, but you are never at a place where we think we are good. We must keep getting better. We are pleased that some people keep provisionally qualifying, but they have to keep working to be competitive at a national level."

Highlighting the day of work is junior high jumper Tanner Stepp (Jefferson City, Tenn.). The four-time All-American, who has already provisionally qualified for the 2017 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, improved to a season-high 2.11 meters in the event.

The mark is only .03 off his indoor career-best and the first-place finish has launched the athlete into the nation's top-seven for the event.

Also competing in the high jump for Carson-Newman on the day was Christian Stumpf (Johnson City, Tenn.). The sophomore wrapped up the day with a 2.01 mark—which was good enough for a third-place finish.

Kristopher Potts-Howard (Tullahoma, Tenn.) brought home a top-five finish in the men's triple jump with a mark of 14.35 meters while Tiana Mills (Chattanooga, Tenn.) finished sixth with a 11.45 meter performance.

C-N's other top-10 finsher on the day came with Marshall Shank (Granite Quarry, N.C.) in the men's pole vault. The sophomore placed seventh overall after surpassing the 4.40 meters mark in a strong field of Division I participants.

The Eagles were also represented at the Camel City Invitational on the day as five sprinters took part in both the men and women's 200 meter dashes.

For the men, Kevin Snead (Richmond, Va.) finished in 12^th-place after completing the trial in 22.74 seconds. This marks the first time of the season for Snead, as the senior false started in Friday's 60 meter dash in what would have been his first recorded time of the year.

Timontrez Eady (Duvall County, Fla.) and Drake McCowan also competed in the event and finished 21^st and 42^nd, respectively.

For the women, both Cassie Smith (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Madison Pickel (Sevierville, Tenn.) recorded top-60 times.

Carson-Newman will be back in action next weekend, Feb. 9, for the JDL Team Challenge in Winston Salem, N.C. For continual coverage of C-N track and field, follow the team's Twitter account at @CN_Track.

Carson-Newman Men: David E. Walker Invitational (ETSU)

800 meters: Anthony Jackson 31^st 2:01.40

3,000 meters: Luke Greer 25^th 9:06.12

Amos Korir 54^th 9:36.78

Kelvin Ronoh 71^st 10:00.90

Shot Put: Lee Wells 27^th 11.59 meters

Logan Pender 29^th 11.44 meters

Ro Collins 33^rd 10.65 meters

Triple Jump: Kristofer Potts-Howard 5^th 14.35 meters

T.J. Davis 14^th 13.37 meters

High Jump: Tanner Stepp 1^st 2.11 meters

Christian Stumpf 3^rd 2.01 meters