May 2, 2024

Eagles place fourth and eighth at SAC Championships

HICKORY, N.C.- Carson-Newman track and field finished fourth and eighth in the conference at the conclusion of the 2024 SAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships this afternoon, May 2.

Carson-Newman women's track and field finished fourth in the conference after the final day of the 2024 SAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships this afternoon, May 2. The women left the meet with 65 points, following Wingate (261.5), Lenoir-Rhyne (190.75), and Anderson (75.75) who finished first, second, and third in the meet. C-N men's track and field landed in eighth at the conference meet. The scored a total of 40 points. Final scores can be found HERE.

"Our women fought so hard," head track and field coach David Needs said. "Placing fourth is tying our second-best ever at the conference meet, so we are happy that they battled through it, even with a lot of injuries. On both sides, we had some really solid marks. We need to continue to get better, and we need to get healthy. All that being said, we will keep getting better, and I'm proud of the ones who stepped up this week".

Amine Kasmi won gold in the men's 200-meter dash finals this afternoon with a 20.84-second performance. Verrol Sam was another athlete to become a SAC Champion. He won gold in the men's high jump with a 2.07-meter performance. Teammate Oluwafemi Richards placed fourth with a 2.04-meter mark in the event.

"Amine and Verrol had some key performances," Needs said. "I was happy to see those guys compete at the level they did".

Kadidja Sangare, Sade De Sousa, Janaya Davis-Gainer, and Brooke Taylor finished second in the women's 4x100-meter relay in 46.76 to kick off the second day of the 2024 SAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The men's 4x100-meter relay team finished sixth in the event in 41.00. Shemar Patten, Kasmi, Lucas Besong, and Sam contributed to the finish.

De Sousa placed third in the women's 100-meter dash finals with a time of 11.65.

"Sade fought hard today," Needs said. "She really battled in the 100, and I was happy with her effort".

Patten finished fifth in the men's 110-meter hurdles finals in 15.11. Jeremiah Carroll grabbed the No. 8 spot in 15.88. Sangare placed fourth in the women's finals in 14.24. Lauren Tabor competed in the women's 400-meter hurdles finals and placed sixth in 1:05.99.

Myke'Lah McMiller (57.60) and Tytiana Wilson (57.72) finished fifth and sixth in the women's 400-meter dash finals.

Luke Smith competed in the men's shot put. Smith placed sixth with a 14.23-meter mark. In the women's shot put, Taylor Steele grabbed 16th with a 10.42-meter toss. Ian Salyer finished 13th in the men's discus throw with a 37.76-meter performance.

Kendall Whitehead finished 11th in the women's high jump with a 1.50-meter performance. Whitehead also competed in the women's triple jump. She finished eighth with a 11.52-meter mark. Teammate Taylor finished ninth (11.37 m).

During the men's 5,000-meter run, Colton Lee finished 14th in 15:32.66. Imke Van Gog grabbed 20th for the women in 19:33.00, and Peyton Couch finished 25th in 20:22.41.

Besong ran with Ethan Blaylock, Garrett Wilson, and Taylor Dupler in the men's 4x400-meter relay. The men finished fifth in 3:17.31. C-N women's 4x400-meter relay team finished sixth in 3:58.13. Abbie Zander, Jenna Pittman, McMiller, and Tabor each contributed a leg.

"We had some injuries and some issues like that, but for every person that was injured, we had somebody stepping up for the team," Needs said. "We will keep working hard. It isn't over yet. Now, we are on to some last chance meets, so we are looking forward to the rest of the season".

Carson-Newman track and field placed fourth and eighth in the conference after day two of SAC Championships. The Eagles will be back in action at the LR Last Chance Meet and Lee Last Chance Meet beginning Friday, May 10. Stay up to date on cneagles.com.