JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Day one of the two-day 2019 East Tennessee State University Invitational commenced on Friday evening in Carson-Newman's first meet of the New Year as Jahvad McDermott and Devon Moore brought on standout performances. Today was the first competition for the Eagles since the indoor season began on Dec. 1-2 in Salem, Va. at Roanoke College.
After bowing out to injury the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships last season and sitting out the outdoor campaign, the Sophomore Moore returned to the track recording a time of 6.89 seconds and a second-place finish in the 60-meter preliminary race which sits .01 seconds outside of a provisional FAT mark. Unattached runner Avery Hubbard finished first at 6.81 seconds with Moore topping Appalachian State sprinter Jabari Johnson at 6.91. Moore's time is tied for 17th in the nation.
Toot Johnson competed in his first event as an Eagle after running a time of 7.04 seconds for a 12th-place finish in the 60m prelims.
Moore, a native of Baxley, Ga., continued his strong day with a sixth-place mark in the 200m prelim a 22.15 seconds and will find himself in a final for two events on Saturday.
"Devon came out faster in his first meet this year in comparison to last season so he is really showing his maturity," Coach David Needs said. "That is really great to see because he's been learning some things and he's been working hard at it in practice with Kieran Showler-Davis. I'm looking forward to seeing if he is up for competing in two finals tomorrow."
McDermott broke his own school record in his one and only attempt on the day at the triple jump clearing 14.73 meters and a first-place finish. The mark currently sits at No. 8 in all of Division II. Teammate James Wilson, who holds the No. 9 leap in the country at 14.72 meters and the previous C-N record, earned fourth-place with a jump of 14.30 meters.
Ashton Abbott collected a new best distance in the weight throw clearing 11.62 meters which also marks a school record which she previously held prior to today's event.
Freshman Josh Finchum finished fourth in the pole vault after clearing 3.70 meters on his third attempt.
Tiffany Noe collected a sixth-place finish in the high jump for C-N clearing a height 1.50 meters.
Caleb Agee posted a 12th-place finish in the 400m dash finishing with a time of 51.81 seconds followed shortly after by fellow junior teammate Jeremiah McCarter in 15th at 52.17 seconds.
"We had very strong positive performances that we can build off today," Needs said. "We are still not where want to be just yet but there's more of our story to be written tomorrow."
Events for the final day of the ETSU invite will pick back up Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m.
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