BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Freshman Tanner Stepp (Jefferson City, TN) competed in the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in Birmingham Friday night and finished in fifth-place in the jump with a jump reaching six-feet nine-inches.
"[We're] Excited to see Carson-Newman relevant on a national scale. Tanner got us there by performing big in a big moment," coach David Needs said.
The freshman went up against the best of the best from across the nation in the men's high jump, and showed them what Carson-Newman was made of.
"To see Tanner on the All-American podium accepting an award was fantastic. To think he is just a freshman is even more impressive," Needs said.
With his six-feet, nine-inch leap, Stepp was able to earn a spot on the podium and become the first Carson-Newman track and field All-American under Needs.
"Coach Tyler Stepp and I noted that today was just the first big step in the direction we want to go as a program," Needs said.
Stepp and the rest of the Eagles begin their outdoor season next weekend in Hickory, N.C. for the Power Sox Invitational. Check back to cneagles.com for updates and more information.
-CN-