PHILADELPHIA – Carson-Newman sophomore jumper TJ Davis (Ooltewah, Tenn.) placed fifth at the 120th Penn Relays in the long jump with a career long leap of 7.27 meters at Franklin Field on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.
"To be in an environment where 39,000 people are watching the best in the nation compete, it is amazing to think our sophomore was not just able to hold his own but show that he is elite. When you beat all the jumpers from the Big 10, Big 12 and the SEC, he has shown our staff he is ready to make the next step. TJ always performs well on the big state – there really isn't' one bigger than this one," coach David Needs said.
Davis was the highest finishing Division II athlete and finished ahead of multiple SEC opponents. His jump was two-hundredths of a meter shorter than fourth-place finisher Reggie Morton of Syracuse. Davis's peformance also provisionally qualified the Ooltewah native for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Davis is the first Carson-Newman athlete to compete in the Penn Relays.
Davis and the rest of the Eagles will compete next at the Tennessee Challenge on May 2nd at Tom Black Track in Knoxville, Tenn.
-CN-