Snead, Gaul soar as Eagles conclude ETSU's Kickoff Classic

JOHNSON CITY— Two more Carson-Newman athletes provisionally qualified for nationals as the Eagles wrapped up day two of events at East Tennessee State University’s David E. Walker Kickoff Classic Saturday in Johnson City.

January 9, 2016

JOHNSON CITY— Two more Carson-Newman athletes provisionally qualified for nationals as the Eagles wrapped up day two of events at East Tennessee State University's David E. Walker Kickoff Classic Saturday in Johnson City.

Junior sprinter Kevin Snead (Richmond, Va.) and sophomore pole vaulter Tori Gaul (Salisbury, N.C.) join teammate T.J. Davis (Chattanooga, Tenn.) as the trio of Carson-Newman track and field athletes who have provisionally qualified for nations in the opening two meets of the Eagles's indoor slate.

Snead's debut as an Eagle was one to remember as the junior college transfer won his first career event after finishing the 60m run with a time of 6.83 seconds and currently ranks sixth in Division II in the event.

Gaul had a stellar day in her own making, breaking Carson-Newman's pole vaulting record en route to a fourth place finish of 3.55m.

"Almost across the board in both days we had people breaking their own personal bests," coach David Needs said following the meet. "We are excited about that and certainly feel like there was some positives today. To be the only Division II school present in the meet and to do some of the things we did this weekend is exciting."

Seven other Carson-Newman athletes joined the duo in contributing top-10 finished for the Eagles. The team had a total of nine top-10 and 24 top-20 marks on the day.

Randall Freeman (Chattanooga, Tenn.) joined Snead as the only other Carson-Newman athlete who claimed a first-place showing on the day, as the senior nabbed a 14.10m mark in the men's triple jump.

Freeman also tallied two other top-10 finishes on Saturday, coming in sixth in the shot put following a 14.33m throw and ninth in the 60m hurdles with a 9.17 second time.

"To know that you have a guy like Randall Freeman in indoor [season] is huge," Needs said. "He broke his indoor triple jump personal record three times in the event. It's a testimony to what kind of athlete he really is."

The men's 60m run was the largest event of the day for the Eagles, as Carson-Newman had seven athletes participate in the event.

Pacing behind Snead who won the event, Timontrez Eady (Duval County, Fla.) notched a top-10 finish in eighth place following a 7.08 second time. Jason Williams (Fayetteville, Ga.), Noah Hill (Nashville, Tenn.) and Freeman each finished in the top-20 overall.

Lachlan Dickie (Knoxville, Tenn.) notched another top-10 finish for the Eagles in the 3000m run, as the sophomore concluded the race with an 8:53.84 second time—good enough for a sixth place showing.

On the women's side of the table, Samantha Gudger (Bristol, Tenn.) joined Gaul with top-10 finishes for Carson-Newman. The sophomore shined for two top-10 tallies on the day, a 1.61m mark in the women's high jump to claim fourth place and a 9.59 second mark in the 60m hurdles for 10^th place.

In the 800m run, Sarah Sharp (Lewis Center, Ohio), Kathleen O'Neill (Sevierville, Tenn.) and Jenifer Warren (Piney Flats, Tenn.) finished 12^th, 13^th and 18^th, respectively, while Hannah Greene (Talbott, Tenn.) and Sara Honaker (Mason, Ohio) nabbed 13^th and 16^th-showings in the 3000m run.

"We had a real good feeling coming out of this meet, but we are not going to use this as a high-water mark—it's a step in the process," Needs said. "It's nice to be able to roll up into a meet like this and to hold our own. We are excited to be where we are right now but have to continue on working each and every day.

The Carson-Newman indoor track and field team will be back at it again next weekend right here in Johnson City for another showdown in ETSU's Mini-Dome.

Carson-Newman Men

60 Meter Run

1) Kevin Snead 6.83

8) Timontrez Eady 7.08

11) Jason Williams 7.13

16) Noah Hill 7.20

18) Randall Freeman 7.23

27) Cole Potter 7.40

31) David Luster 7.50

Mile Run

11) Joshua Marsh 4:54.43

60 Meter Hurdles