Results

WINSTON SALEM, N.C. – In the inaugural year for indoor track & field in the South Atlantic Conference, 18 different Eagles collected All-Conference marks in the league championships.

Devon Moore and Kristofer Potts-Howard both collected individual awards from the conference following the days events.

Moore, who plays football at C-N, grabbed the Freshman Track & Field Athlete of the year which included an impressive showing on the lone day of the SAC Championships.

Potts-Howard was awarded the Field Athlete of the Year by the league, competing in the long jump, triple jump and even the high jump for the first time in his career on championship day.

"One of the things that shows with the two of them is winning an award in the conference meet, you have to perform in multiple events and do it well," Needs stated. "What they were able to do at a high level was impressive."

In the first event of the day, the C-N foursome of Kathleen O'Neill, Jessica Capron, Priscah Jemeli and Lindsey Williams collected an All-Conference finish in the Distance Medley with a third-place time of 13:08.96 which also marked a new season-low time.

Noah Robertson collected a second-place finish in the pole vault clearing height of 4.30 meters as the freshman became an All-Conference pole vaulter.

Samantha Gudger turned in an All-Conference performance with a fourth-place finish in the long jump clearing a distance of 5.29 meters. All top-eight finishers in events are named All-SAC. In relays, the top-three groups earn All-Conference. 

In the men's long jump, Kristofer Potts-Howard notched the third spot with a jump of 6.94 meters. The junior jumper also posted a new season-best in the triple jump with a distance of 13.92 meters.

The Tullahoma, Tenn. native also collected a fourth-place finish in the high jump at 1.80 meters, an event in which he has never competed in before at the collegiate level.

Tanner Stepp collected the league title in the high jump after clearing 2.05 meters to top Wingate's junior jumper Isaiah Kyle. Stepp went on to complete the leap at 2.10 meters before missing on all three attempts at 2.16.

The senior out of Jefferson City, Tenn. is now a perfect four-for-four in first-place finishes in meets in which he competed in the high jump.

Logan Pender collected a point rounding out the top-eight in the shot put with a distance of 13.87 meters, a new season-best for the sophomore.

Kieran Showler-Davis and Devon Moore both collected two of the top-four times in the 60 meter dash prelims with Showler-Davis running a 6.81 for first, and Moore at 6.89 for fourth.

Moore bested Showler-Davis in the finals turning in a new season-best time of 6.78 seconds which placed the freshman in second-place. The time gives Moore a national qualifier for the indoor championships.

Showler-Davis posted a time of 6.79 seconds which was originally good enough for the No. 3 finish based on results. After receiving his medal, it was determined a tie between the senior and P.J. Lotharp of Lenoir-Rhyne who ultimately was awarded the third spot based on further review of footage.

Moore continued a stellar championship turning in a second-place time in the 200 meter dash for his second national qualifying mark of the day. His time of 21.81 seconds was narrowly edged by L-R's Lotharp, but notched a new career-best for the freshman sprinter.

"It feels good knowing I can compete for nationals," Moore stated. "I felt pretty good going in to the day, and I knew my time would drop based on the way practices and workouts have been."

Not only was it the first championship for Moore, but the day marked the inaugural indoor championships for the South Atlantic Conference.

"The atmosphere was beautiful seeing all the people screaming for everyone," Moore added. "It's been fun and now I know what to expect for next year."

Tori Gaul put in a season-best height in the pole vault clearing 3.72 meters, earning a first-place finish in the event. Her previous high of 3.55 meters came just a few weeks ago at the Buccaneer Track & Field Invitational.

Amy Zadroga also collected a new career-best in the event clearing 3.42 meters which placed the freshman in fourth overall, topping her previous high of 3.15 meters which was set in January at the ETSU Invitational.

Luke Greer posted an All-SAC mark in the one mile run at 4:26.32 with a fifth-place finish netting his team four points. His most impressive run came later in the day as the senior turned in a second-place finish for the Eagles in the 3000 meter run with a time of 8:37.82.

The Eagles had three jumpers collect points in the women's high jump with the senior Gudger leading the way with a second-place finish clearing a height of 1.62 meters.

Stephanie Johnson posted a new-season best in the event with a sixth-place mark at 1.52 meters. Maddison Bunch notched the 1.47 meter mark to round out the top-eight jumpers.

"We always want to go in and get points where we can," Gudger said. "I was happy with what we were able to accomplish and it was a good overall day for us."

Freshman Tia Davis made it to the final in her first SAC Championship meet in the 60 meter dash. She recorded an eighth-place finish at 8.00 seconds. The Ooltewah, Tenn. native also competed in the 200 meter dash recording the eight spot at 26.38 seconds.

Kathleen O'Neill rounded out the top-eight in the 800 meter run with a new season-best time in the event at 2:26.88.

In the team rankings, the men collected a fourth-place finish overall. The women came in with the sixth-most points in the standings.

"I thought we struggled early on the men's side," Needs added. "There were some events we wanted to do well in and we didn't because of some injuries and performance. But as the day went on, we got better and pushed on. With the women, they were consistent all day. The point total won't show up as great in the rankings standards but I felt the performance was solid all day.

"It was good to see some of those highlights with Stepp winning the conference championship in the high jump as well as Noah and Devon in their first championships as freshmen scoring good finishes. Even guys like Logan Pender, to throw two feet better than you have ever thrown, it is really special. To see Tori go out on top in indoor and grab a mark that has her on the verge of going to nationals."

The team will now turn its focus on the Last Chance meet at George Mason in Fairfax, Va. on Feb. 25. The meet will give the athletes one final opportunity for an indoor national qualifier in Pittsburg, Kan. which take place next month.