VIDEO: David Needs Interview 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--- For the first time in his career, Carson-Newman high jumper Tanner Stepp (Jefferson City, Tenn.) comes home empty handed as the junior failed to surpass the 2.02 meter opening-height bar in the event to wrap up the 2017 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships for the Eagles.

The four-time All-American was not alone, however, as three other athletes also failed to clear the initial height on the day. Of the 16 athletes who took part in the men's high jump, only 10 moved past the 2.02 meter mark.

"It's hard because you are starting at a higher height. You start at a height here where most people would be happy to get at a normal track meet," coach David Needs said. "It is a challenge. Tanner is always battling some injuries of some kind that presents challenges, but he is not going to make excuses and neither are we. Tanner can get it and will get it. He will bounce back for the outdoor season."

Three more athletes passed the 2.07 meter bar to move on in the competition before Wingate's Isiah Kyle, Saint Martin's Mikel Smith and Grand Valley State's Hunter Weeks finished the event with exciting back-and-forth leaps from 2.16 meters and beyond.

By the end, it was Smith from Saint Martin's who claimed the gold with South Atlantic Conference foe Kyle recording a second-place finish. Martin's first-place leap of 2.22 meters came on his third attempt from the height while Kyle's 2.19 meter recording came on his third as well.

Grand Valley State's Hunter Weeks finished third with a 2.16 meter mark on his third attempt of the round before bowing out in three tries at the 2.19 meter bar.

Prior to Friday, Stepp's showcase on the national stage saw the junior sport top-10 markings in all four appearances. As a freshman, the Jefferson City, Tenn. native finished fifth with a 2.05 meter mark and sixth a season ago with a 2.06 meter recording. In the outdoor realm, Stepp has finished ninth and fourth, respectively. 

"Tanner is motivated and has great strengths. He is his own biggest-critic and that is how a lot of elite athletes are," Needs said. "He will go back and watch the video and learn from this. He will find the mistakes he made and not make them again. That is to his credit and to coach Tyler Stepp's credit. They will fix those things."

Coming into the day, the local product leaped a season-best of 2.11 meters at the Buccaneer Invitational on Feb. 2. All five of Stepp's jumps on the year prior to the day had been either 2.00 meters or better while three have surpassed the 2.06 meter mark. 

Prior to the no height finish Friday afternoon, Stepp was tied for seventh in Division II--even with Cameron Burrows (Tiffin), Trey Everett (Findlay) and Michael Sandle (Minnesota State), with the 2.11 meter mark. The foursome fell just behind Barton's Lawrence Russel Jr. (2.13 meters), Minnesota State's Jeff DeCock (2.13 meters), Weeks (2.15 metrs), Ashland's Myles Pringle (2.17 meters), Kyle (2.17 meters) and Smith (2.12 meters) who were seeded ahead of Stepp's group to begin the day.

The Jefferson City, Tenn. native's work Friday afternoon officially wraps up the 2017 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships for Carson-Newman as sprinter Kevin Snead (Richmond, Va.) finished the 60 meter dash with an 11^th-place finish of 6.81 seconds Thursday afternoon to claim his fourth All-American status.

As the indoor season comes to a close with another impressive showing on the national stage, Carson-Newman now sets its sights to the outdoor campaign that will commence in the coming week. Tune into cneagles.com at the beginning of the week for scheduling announcements regarding the outdoor season.

-CN-