Moore, Oreva named USTFCCCA Southeast Region Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Year

Posted: Mar 05, 2021

NEW ORLEANS - The accolades continue to roll in for Devon Moore and Joseph Oreva as they were named the USTFCCCA Southeast Region Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Year on Friday, Mar. 5.

"We are extremely excited to have these accolades," says Director of Track & Field and Cross Country David Needs. "It is certainly about talent but it is also about hard work. Both Devon and Joseph have not just been content with strong performances at competitions, but also bring the same mindset each day to practice."

Moore has been steadily adding to his trophy case since arriving in Mossy Creek. The senior from Baxley, Ga finished the regular season as the highest-ranked athlete in the region in any event.

"Devon has been incredibly consistent for four years with us and having a great relationship with his sprint coach, Kieran Showler-Davis," says Needs. "They are able to communicate what is needed each day and continue to perform at a top level with all the distractions and obstacles of the COVID era."

After finishing third and recording a false start in his first two 60 meter races of the season at the KMS Invitational in January, Moore has won seven straight races in the men's 60 meter to close out the indoor regular season. Moore has won 16 out of his last 20 races in the indoor 60 meter, his worst finish being in the finals of the 2019 Division II Indoor Championships where he finished seventh with a time of 6.86 seconds. His run of 6.74 seconds in the 60 meter at the UIndy Last Chance Meet ranks him fourth in the country

At the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championships, Moore did not finish the race in the 200 meter. Since then, the senior out of Baxley, Ga. has raced in the 200 meter in the indoor season 13 times, placing first in seven races, inluding winning two straight this season. His time of 21.44 seconds at the VMI Winter Classic ranks eighth in Division II this season.

Oreva has made an immediate impact in Jeff City, becoming one of the most succesful freshmen in any sport in Carson-Newman history.

The Port Harcourt, Nigeria native obliterated the 44 year old indoor school record in the long jump with a distance of 7.75 meters at the Buccaneer Invitational on Feb. 5. It didn't take long for Oreva to break the record again as he jumped 7.84 meters in his final jump of the day just eight minutes later to win the competition. That distance still ranks first in the nation at the Division II level by 0.09 meters.

Oreva has won three straight long jump event wins to start his career, with his closest win being by 0.30 meters (1 foot) at the KMS Invitational in Birmingham Crossplex on Jan. 24.

"Joseph is off to a strong start," says Needs. "He has connected with coach Stepp and coach Potts-Howard who have helped him connect and adapt to life in a new country."

Moore is the first ever Carson-Newman athlete to be named Southeast Region Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. The award dates back to 2006 and has been won by a male track athlete from the South Atlantic Conference seven times, the most recent being PJ Lotharp of Lenoir-Rhyne in 2019.

Oreva becomes the fifth all-time winner of the Southeast Region Indoor Field Athlete of the Year award from Carson-Newman. This is the second straight season an Eagle freshman has won the award, as Christian Shouse was the winner last season. Tanner Stepp is the only two-time winner from Carson-Newman, going back-to-back in 2015 and 2016. Andrew Pickwell was the first award-winner from Carson-Newman, winning the honor in 2011.

Both Moore and Oreva will look to add to their trophy case as they head to Birmingham, Ala. to compete in the NCAA Division II National Championships beginning on Mar. 12.

Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.