WINSTON SALEM, N.C.— Carson-Newman wrapped up day two of events at the Camel City Classic Saturday in impressive fashion as Kevin Snead (Richmond, Va.) placed third overall in the finals sector of the men's 60m dash.
"To be in a meet like this with such a great collection of athletes, it gives you a real idea of what it takes to be an athlete in this sport. It was a real teachable momentum," coach David Needs said. "It taught our kids on what it takes to get better. You don't get many moments like this to run with a group of people like this and to see what it like."
Snead, who beat out all other 83 sprinters in the qualifying race Friday following a run of 6.80 seconds, took part in the semifinals Saturday morning. The junior finished 6th overall with a 6.85 second mark and earned a trip to the finals later in the day.
The finals sector of the 60m dash allowed only the top-eight runners to compete in the run. Snead's third-place finish after a 6.78 second mark made him the highest finishing collegiate-sprinter in the Meet.
Snead beat out a number of Division I All-Americans and Olympians in the event including University of South Carolina's Dondre Echols. The lone duo who finished in front of the Carson-Newman sprinter was Nike runner Sean McLean who place fifth in the USA Nationals last year and reigning Olympian silver medalist Ramon Gittens.
"For Snead to go through a qualifying, semifinal and finals race in the past two days, that's tough in this sport, but the thing that is cool about Kevin is that he knows he can run faster and run better. You have to love that in an athlete that he not satisfied," Needs said. "Most people would be complacent, but he knows he can run faster. He beat a lot of people who have run really fast times and to be there and run a race like that with Olympians, while maintaining your focus, I can't be any more proud of him."
Aside from Snead, the Eagles had two other athletes who competed on Saturday. Tiana Mills (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Randall Freeman (Chattanooga, Tenn.) both picked up top-15 finishes in the triple jump event.
Freeman completed the jump 12th out of 26 participants with a 13.94m leap while Mills picked up a 14th-place mark with an 11.16m jump.
"Just in competition today, there was 20 people who have either won World Championships or Olympic medals. Lolo Jones, Brianna Rollins, Ashton Eaton are just to name a few," Needs said. "This meet welcomed freakishly fast and athletic people. The women's hurdles had the four of the fastest times in the world. The professional athletes are competing with the college guys and we were excited to get this opportunity."
Saturday wrapped up the Camel City Classic for the select group of nine C-N athletes who made the trip. A complete viewing of the final results can be found here.
Friday's events highlighted Tanner Stepp (Jefferson City, Tenn.) who made his season debut by provisionally qualifying in the men's high jump with a 2.14m mark of third-place. Stepp's showing pushed the Eagle sophomore into 4th-place in Division II and 20th overall in the nation.
Carson-Newman will be back on its regular season slate next weekend for another indoor meet at East Tennessee State University.
For complete coverage of Carson-Newman track and field, follow us on twitter at @CN_Track and online at cneagles.com.
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