Eagles Sink Talons into Day One of Tennessee Invitational
Carson-Newman featured strong results at the 2025 Tennessee Invitational.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman featured strong results at the 2025 Tennessee Invitational.
Carson-Newman Track and Field collected two podium finishes on day one of competition in Knoxville, Tenn., at the 2025 Tennessee Invitational, which was hosted by the University of Tennessee.
Sydney McCarty (Sevierville, Tenn.) placed third in the women's long jump with a distance of 5.99m, the sixth best in Division II this outdoor season. McCarty was only toppled in the event by Division I's Esther Solarin of Youngstown State and Mikele Vickers of host institution Tennessee, leaving McCarty as the top-ranking athlete from Division II.
Brooke Taylor and Brooke Visser also competed in the long jump placing 11th and 16th, respectively.
Oluwatimi Williams (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) continued his red-hot pace to begin the outdoor season, placing third in the men's discus throw, the event he set the school record at a week prior at the King University Invitational. Williams achieved a distance of 54.45m only toppled by Tennessee's Aron Alvarez Aranda and Seth Apple who placed first and second.
Other impressive finishes came in the men's 1500m where Colten Lee (Knoxville, Tenn.) placed ninth, as the second-fastest non-Division I athlete clocking a time of 3:55.89. Milligan's Bryn Woodall, who won the event, was the only non-DI athlete to place ahead of Lee.
Favour Ekpekpe (Nigeria) finished sixth in the men's 200m with a time of 20.93 with teammate Dawson Jones placing 11th in the event as well. Ekpekpe was the top finisher from Division II and his time ranks as the ninth best time in D2 this outdoor season.
Additionally, multiple personal records (PR) were set on day one. Steffi Johnson (Sevierville, Tenn.) set a PR in the women's 1500m while Henry Hunter (Abingdon, Va.) and Andrew Thompson (Tullahoma, Tenn.) set PRs in the men's 5000m.
A majority of events that the Eagles compete in will come on Saturday, April 5. Day two includes the men's High Jump where Eagle jumpers Verrol Sam and Oluwafemi Richards are seeded in the top five, as well as the 100m where Sade De Sousa is expected to shine.
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