Moore repeats as SAC Outdoor Track & Field Male Athlete of the Year
June 15, 2021

Moore repeats as SAC Outdoor Track & Field Male Athlete of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. - For the second straight outdoor track & field season, Devon Moore was named the SAC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year on Tuesday, Jun. 15.

ROCK HILL, S.C. - For the second straight outdoor track & field season, Devon Moore was named the SAC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Male Athlete of the Year on Tuesday, Jun. 15. 

The sprinter out of Baxley, Ga. earns the honor after winning the award from the South Atlantic Conference for the first time in his career in 2019. The 2020 outdoor season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The SAC Men's Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year award is determined following the completion of the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championship and is voted on by the league's head coaches.

"Devon is a special athlete," says Director of Track & Field and Cross Country David Needs. "His mantle full of All-American medals is a testimony to his competitive mindset and a belief that he is going to bring hs best. Most importantly he has a tremendous work ethic and I can't say enough about the special relationship he has with (sprints coach) Kieran Showler-Davis. They communicate very well and share a common vision in what is needed on the track."

Moore was the model of consistency during the 2021 outdoor track & field season, placing inside the top-three of every race he competed in, competing in the 100 meter and 200 meter runs as an individual, while also competing as the anchor leg of the men's 4x100 meter relay team.

Moore was part of one of the quickest men's 4x100 meter relay teams in recent history at Carson-Newman. The quartet of Moore, DeQuan Dudley, Isaiah Weasby, and Sterling Melancon finished third at the 2021 SAC Outdoor Championships with a time of 41.55 seconds. Two weeks later, the same squad set an NCAA provisional mark with a third place finish at the Lee Last Chance Meet with a time of 40.79 seconds, tying with eventual national champion Grand Valley State for the 24th fastest time in the nation in the event. 

In the 100 meter run, Moore started the outdoor season with a dominant event win at the Montreat College Invitational, taking home the gold medal with a time of 10.51 seconds, 0.15 seconds faster than the second place finisher. Moore then took home the event title with a win over several nationally ranked sprinters at the Lee Invitational with a time of 10.38 seconds, winning the event by an incredible 0.31 seconds. 

At the 2020 SAC Outdoor Championships, Moore would earn the win in his preliminary heat of the 100 meter and take home the silver medal in the event with a time of 10.47 seconds. The Eagles returned to Cleveland, Tenn. for the Lee Last Chance Meet, where Moore earned his third victory in the 100 meter run with a blistering time of 10.30 seconds, tying his own school record in the event and giving him the second fastest time in the nation in the 100 meter run. 

Moore then headed to Allendale, Mich. for the 2020 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, finishing second in his preliminary heat with a time of 10.37 seconds before taking home the bronze medal, missing out on silver by 0.01 seconds in the event with a time of 10.36 seconds. The third place finish gave Moore his ninth career All-American honor. 

In the 200 meter run, Moore set an NCAA provisional mark in his first race of the season at Montreat College with a time of 21.24 seconds, winning the event. After a third place finish at the Flames Invitational with a time of 21.15 seconds, Moore put on a show in Hickory at the 2021 SAC Outdoor Championships, winning his first ever outdoor conference medal with a time of 20.78 seconds, 0.29 seconds ahead of the second place finisher and the fourth fastest time in the nation.

In Michigan, Moore took home second in the 200 meter run with a time of 20.79 seconds, earning his tenth career All-American honor, a new school record. 

Moore was also named USTFCCCA All-Region in the 100 meter and 200 meter runs for the second straight outdoor season. Moore also won two SAC Outdoor Male Track Athlete of the Week honors during the 2021 season. 

Moore becomes the first athlete ever to repeat as the SAC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year.

Melanie Welsing of Queens was named the Female Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year for the South Atlantic Conference.