January 13, 2018

Jump Around! Potts-Howard, Stepp highlight day two of ETSU Invitational

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – On day two of the ETSU Invitational & Knoxville Youth Atletics HS Indoor Classic, Carson-Newman athletes once again proved their mettle against D1 talent.

Kristofer Potts-Howard and Tanner Stepp both collected first-place finishes for the Eagles in their respective events during the afternoon.

Potts-Howard held the top spot in the long jump with a distance of 7.07 meters. The native of Tullahoma, Tenn. recently set a new school record in the event at the Bast-Cregger Invitational when he was lauded off his 7.26-meter jump.

Stepp claimed the No. 1 position in the high jump after clearing a height of 2.11 meters on his first try clearing his season-best of 2.08 meters set last month.

The Jefferson City, Tenn. product is now two-for-two in high jumps in the indoor season when he also claimed first-place at Roanoke College in early December.

"Tanner was impressive today and he's now third in the nation in the high jump," Coach David Needs stated. "It wasn't the best distance for Kristofer but he still came away a first-place finish."

Jahvad McDermott, who checked in at the third spot in the triple jump a day ago, also finished third in the high jump for C-N clearing a mark of 2.01 meters on his first attempt. Christian Stumpf tied for seventh in the event clearing 1.93 meters on his third attempt.

"We had a good day today," Coach Needs exclaimed. "Luke had a great performance, and his time moved him up to second in the region."

Junior Luke Greer collected a fourth-place finish in the 63-athlete field who competed in the one mile run on Saturday morning with a time of 4:21.28. The Abington. Northampton, United Kingdom native topped a number of FCS athletes including four runners from Western Carolina, three from VMI, two from ETSU and one from Wofford.

Greer came in behind unattached runner Aaron Combs (4:15.82), Simeon Roberts (4:13.47) of ETSU and national qualifier Elijah Inuwa (4:13.32) of Queens (N.C.), but finished first in his heat.

Juniors Rebekah White and Savanah McCarter both turned in personal-best times in the 3000-meter race during the morning event with White notching a time of 11:41.37 in 24th-place and McCarter on her heels in 25th at 11:44.90.

Freshman Devon Moore advanced to the 60-meter dash finals where he turned in a sixth-place finish with a time of 7.02 seconds finishing ahead of Coastal Carolina's senior sprinter Therius Styles.

The Baxley, Ga. native earned a trip to the final after he topped former Western Carolina standout and Olympic silver medalist Manteo Mitchell by .01 seconds on day one of the invitational.

"What Devon was able to do as a freshman in a final in his first college competition is outstanding," Needs added. "For him it's just part of how a freshman will learn what is body can do over a two-day meet and he handled it really well.

"I'm happy with the way we competed here and it shows that we can perform at the national level. I'm extremely pleased with what we can do in taking that next step because that's what it's all about."

The Eagles will head back to Salem, Va. on Jan. 26-27 for the Finn Pincus Invitational at Roanoke College. It markes the second time this indoor season that C-N will compete in Salem when they broke six school records at the Bast-Cregger Invitational on Dec. 1 and 2.

Women's Track & Field Events

3000 Meters

25). Rebekah White – 11:41.37 (Personal Best)

26). Savanah McCarter – 11:44.90 (Personal Best)

Pole Vault

9). Tori Gaul – 3.35 meters

15). Amy Zadroga – 3.15 meters

Men's Track & Field Events

1 Mile Run

4). Luke Greer – 4:21.28 (Top finish in his section)

Long Jump

1). Kristofer Potts-Howard – 7.07 meters