JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.- Carson-Newman track and field is heading to the two separate meets this weekend including the two-day Vanderbilt Invitational in Nashville, Tenn. and two-day Finn Pincus Invitational in Salem, Va. Both meets will begin Friday, Jan. 19 and conclude Saturday, Jan. 20.
The Eagles will race Division I competition this weekend at the Vanderbilt Invitational this Friday, Jan. 19 and Saturday, Jan. 20. The first day of competition is set to begin with multis at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Field events will begin at noon, and running events will start at 7:00 p.m. with the 200-meter dash. Saturday's events will begin at 9:30 a.m. Field events will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the shot put event, and running events will begin at 1:00 p.m. with the 60-meter hurdles prelims. Among the multiple teams set to compete are Tennessee Tech, University of Missouri, and host Vanderbilt University. Results for the meet can be found HERE.
"This is a really good opportunity for the team," head track and field coach David Needs said. "We always strive to compete against the best to push ourselves to the next level".
Carson-Newman track and field has a history of competing against DI competition. The Eagles raced at the Tennessee Invite, Georgia Tech Invitational, and Texas Relays during the 2023 outdoor season. Sade De Sousa raced in the women's 100-meter dash timed section at the Texas Relays last season, and she finished fourth with a new school record of11.48 seconds. At the Tennessee Invite, De Sousa placed sixth in the 200-meter dash in 24.54. De Sousa set a new personal record and was the first Division II athlete to finish the race. Camden Fritz recorded a season best performance in the men's long jump with a 6.76-meter jump that afforded him 12th in the event. On the women's side of the event, Kadidja Sangare placed seventh with a personal best jump of 5.92 meters. Sydney McCarty set a season best with her 5.84-meter leap and ninth-place finish in the event.
Those who are not attending the Vanderbilt Invitational this weekend will head to the Finn Pincus Invitational at the Kerr-Cregger Fieldhouse in Salem, Va. The Eagles were originally headed to the VMI Team Challenge, but the team's plans changed after winter weather struck Mossy Creek. C-N track and field shifted the schedule to a closer Finn Pincus Invitational instead. Field events will begin at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19 while running events start at 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, Jan. 20, the meet will continue at 10:00 a.m. and end at 3:40 p.m. with the women's 4x400-meter relay. Live stats for the event can be found HERE.
"We are hopeful that the weather allows for a safe trip and another great experience at Roanoke College," Needs said. "We are excited to get back there to compete again".
The Eagles had a successful outing at the 2023 Finn Pincus Invitational last indoor season. Raymond Brugmans finished first in the men's one mile race with a time of 4:26.67. Colten Lee finished the one mile in 4:27.53 for a third-place finish. Brugmans placed second in the men's 800-meter run with a time of 1:58.00. Christian Henry had the best performance of his college career in the event by finishing third with a time of 1:59.08. On the women's side, Sangare finished second in the women's 60-meter hurdles in 8.91 seconds. Brooke Taylor placed third in the women's long jump with a 5.26-meter leap.
"I'm excited for our entire team this weekend. Our distance runners will have the chance to see where they are and our sprinters and jumpers will have the chance to see some really strong competition. Overall, we are ready to compete again, and we are headed to some quality meets to get back into the season," Needs said.
Carson-Newman track and field is headed to both the Vanderbilt Invitational and Finn Pincus Invitational this weekend. Stay up to date on cneagles.com.
