HICKORY, N.C – The Carson-Newman University men and women's track and field teams opened the 2015 outdoor season at the Power Sox Invitational at Lenoir-Rhyne's Irwin Belk Track.
The Eagles had numerous athletes break school and personal records.
Freshman Tanner Stepp, (Jefferson City, Tenn.) recently named an All-American in the men's high jump, added to his accolades after he earned first place with a 6'11 ½ jump, breaking not only his own personal and school records, but the Irwin Belk Track's facility record as well. His jump is the highest-jump in Division II this season.
"Tanner one week removed from earning all-American in the high jump to jump 2.12 meters and earn a return trip to Nationals is where we want to be," coach David Needs said.
The freshman's record-breaking performance has earned him a trip back to the NCAA Track and Field Championships.
Sophomore Kristin Chapman earned first-place in the women's high jump after a 1.60m jump, just missing a qualification for the national meet. Freshman Samantha Grudger followed close behind in second with 1.55m jump.
Tiana Mills's outstanding performance at L-R, in the words of Coach Needs, "rewrote the record book" after her 11.27m leap into the sand pit, giving her first-place in the women's triple jump. The sophomore also finished in second-place in the women's long jump with a leap of 5.23m. Mills broke each of her own records twice, setting an even higher standard for herself for the remainder of the season.
Freshman Tori Gaul (Salisbury, N.C.) added to the stellar performances Saturday after she tied or broke school records in all of the three events she competed. Gaul tied the women's pole vault record (2.90m), previously set by current assistant Kristin Eubanks Campbell. The sophomore broke Chapman's previously set record in the women's 400m hurdles (1:06.77), an event she says she's been looking forward to all year. Gabrielle Fewell followed close behind in second, with a time of 1:09.79.
From the men's side, Christian Robinson also finished in first-place in the men's 400m hurdles, with a time of 57.03. Lachlan Dickie finished in first-place in the men's 5000m Run. TJ Davis finished in third in both the men's long and triple jump. Randall Freeman finished in second in the men's shot put.
Gaul, along with Samantha Grudger, Madison Pickel and Shauntae Miller finished in second-place in the women's 4x400m relay (4:09.20), setting a new school record for the mile relay.
The men's 4x400m Relay team of Anthony Jackson, Matthew Melton, Ray Tiller and Jacob Hall also finished in second-place with a time of 3:26.45.
Both the men and women's 4x100m relay teams finished in third-place. The women's team of Briana Hunter, Cassie Smith, Jessica Capron and Anna Bauder finished with a time of 51:08. The men's team of Jason Williams, Davis, Darian Harris and Noah Hill finished the race in 43.14.
"We had many strong performances by several athletes, but as a team we will need to take the next step to be the kind of team we want to be at the end of May at Nationals," Needs said.
Carson-Newman travels to Rome, GA for the Rome Shorter Invitational next weekend.
WOMEN LONG JUMP
2 Tiana Mills 5.23m
3 Kristin Chapman 4.92m
5 Samantha Grudger 4.84m
8 Jessica Azor 4.57m
MEN LONG JUMP
3 TJ Davis 6.61m
4 Tanner Stepp 6.55m
7 Jason Williams 6.45m
9 Randall Freeman 6.32m
WOMEN POLE VAULT
1 Tori Gaul 2.90m
WOMEN DISCUS THROW
10 Tiana Mills 29.96m
16 Amanda Bennett 24.66m
21 Markeeta Haga 20.41m
MEN DISCUS THROW
4 Randall Freeman 40.70m
18 Roy Collins 22.98m
WOMEN HIGH JUMP
1 Kristin Chapman 1.60m
2 Samantha Grudger 1.55m
5 Jessica Azor 1.50m
MEN HIGH JUMP
1 Tanner Stepp 2.12m
WOMEN TRIPLE JUMP
1 Tiana Mills 11.27m
MEN TRIPLE JUMP
3 TJ Davis 13.34m
WOMEN SHOT PUT
9 Jessica Azor 10.13m
13 Christianna Smith 9.52m
20 Gabriella Fewell 8.59m
22 Amanda Bennett 7.89m
MEN SHOT PUT
2 Randall Freeman 14.55m
14 Roy Collins 10.80m
WOMEN JAVELIN THROW
6 Jessica Azor 29.22m
10 Gabrielle Fewell 25.20m
19 Rachel Hutson 14.83m
20 Madison Pulver 14.46m
MEN JAVELIN THROW
4 Randall Freeman 41.96m
WOMEN 3000m STEEPLECHASE
2 Amber Farmer 14:35.71
MEN 3000m STEEPLECHASE
3 Patrick Stump 12:00.52
4 Alec Bross 12:08.82
WOMEN 4x100m RELAY
3 Carson-Newman 51.08
1) Briana Hunter 3) Jessica Capron
2) Cassie Smith 4) Anna Bauder
MEN 4x100m RELAY
3 Carson-Newman 43.14
1) Jason Williams 3) Darian Harris
2) TJ Davis 4) Noah Hill
WOMEN 1500m RUN
4 Hannah Green 5:21.33
9 Sara Honaker 5:34.86
20 Aiyana Martino 5:51.72
23 Rachel Hutson 6:14.95
MEN 1500m RUN
10 Lachlan Dickie 4:17.59
13 Luke Greer 4:22.00
27 Anthony Jackson 4:35.43
35 Mark Edwards 4:46.74
WOMEN 400m DASH
7 Madison Pickel 1:04.09
11 Duncan Sparks 1:10.31
MEN 400m DASH
6 Ray Tiller 51.44
7 Aaron Seward 52.05
14 Matthew Melton 54.48
15 Colin Smith 55.73
21 Cellmen Bellamy 57.68
WOMEN 100m HURDLES
6 Lindsay Franklin 17.16
7 Samantha Grudger 17.48
8 Jessica Azor 17.52
WOMEN 100m DASH
10 Jessica Capron 13.36
11 Cassie Smith 13.45
14 Anna Bauder 13.52
17 Briana Hunter 13.66
19 Darcentia Turner 13.89
MEN 100m DASH
12 TJ Davis 11.43
13 Noah Hill 11.44
22 Jawan Holmes 11.93
23 Lonnie Williams 11.96
WOMEN 800m RUN
3 Aiyana Martino 2:35.98
8 Sarah Sharp 2:40.26
20 Amber Farmer 2:57.37
MEN 800m RUN
7 Josh Marsh 2:08.66
18 Patrick Stump 2:16.18
22 Alec Bross 2:24.79
WOMEN 400m HURDLES
1 Tori Gaul 1:06.77
2 Gabrielle Fewell 1:09.79
5 Lindsey Franklin 1:19.42
MEN 400m HURDLES
1 Christian Robinson 57.03
WOMEN 200m DASH
6 Shauntae Miller 25.97
10 Cassie Smith 27.19
13 Jessica Capron 27.98
14 Darcentia Turner 28.16
16 Anna Bauder 28.24
18 Briana Hunter 28.51
MEN 200m DASH
15 Matt Rust 23.61
17 Noah Hill 23.66
26 Jawan Williams 24.86
WOMEN 5000m RUN
3 Hannah Green 20:11.25
5 Sara Honaker 21:06.42
MEN 5000m RUN
1 Lachlan Dickie 15:46.94
WOMEN 4x400m RELAY
2 Carson-Newman 4:09.20
1) Tori Gaul 3) Madison Pickel
2) Samantha Grudger 4) Shauntae Miller
5 Carson-Newman 4:47.55
1) Aiyana Martino 3) Anna Bauder
2) Sarah Sharp 4) Duncan Sparks
MEN 4x400m RELAY
2 Carson-Newman 3:26.45
1) Anthony Jackson 3) Ray Tiller
2) Matthew Melton 4) Jacob Hall
5 Carson-Newman 3:42.39
1) Josh Marsh 3) Luke Greer
2) Colin Smith 4) Cellmen Bellamy
-CN-