Kieran Showler-Davis Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.- Carson-Newman head track and field coach David Needs has released the 2024 outdoor track and field schedule this afternoon, Mar. 21. 

"We look at each track meet from a perspective of the best competition for our athletes whether that means location or that we've had success on that track before," associate director of track and field Kieran Showler-Davis said.

Carson-Newman track and field is set to compete for the next five weekends before heading to the 2024 South Atlantic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships beginning Wednesday, May 1. 

The Eagles are coming back from the first weekend of outdoor competition at the LR Bears Opener in Hickory, N.C. 

"It was a good starting point," Showler-Davis said. "We had athletes doing events that they don't usually do. It was nice to sort of see where everyone is at, and that starting point is where they can progress from". 

The upcoming weekend of competition for the Eagles will come in the form of a split weekend. Sprinters and distance runners will head to the Lee Invitational in Cleveland, Tenn. The first day of the meet will begin Friday, Mar. 22 at 12:00 p.m., and the second day of competition will begin at 9:30 a.m. Jumpers and throwers will head to the Montreat College Open in Black Mountain, N.C. The two-day meet will begin Friday, Mar. 22. 

"This week, we are going to Montreat and Lee," Showler-Davis said. "Usually, Montreat is good for our jumpers and throwers. It's the same for Lee with our sprinters and distance, so we review it to see which one is best and what's going to get the best out of our athletes". 

The Eagles will split up again for the weekend of Friday, Mar. 6. Lee University will host the Fast Break Athletics Invitational in Cleveland, Tenn. The meet will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, Mar. 6 and 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, Mar. 7. The rest of the C-N track and field team will attend the Tennessee Invite in Knoxville, Tenn. 

Carson-Newman track and field will attend three seperate meets on the weekend of Friday, April 12. The Electric City Invitational will take place on Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13 in Anderson, S.C. Lenoir-Rhyne will host the Southside Power & Fitness Invitational for two days beginning Saturday, April 13 in Hickory, N.C. A group of Eagles will also head to the Asheville Bulldog Invite in Asheville, N.C. that Saturday. 

The Eagles will head to Western Carolina to compete in the Catamount Classic on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20. The meet will take place in Cullowhee, N.C. The first day of competition will begin at 1:00 p.m., and Saturday's events will begin at 11:30 a.m. 

The 2024 SAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships are set to begin, Wednesday, May 1 in Hickory, N.C. The Eagles will head to the meet with hopes of leaving conference championships. 

At the conclusion of conference championships, C-N track and field athletes will have one last weekend of competition to qualify for the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The Lenoir-Rhyne Last Chance Meet will begin Friday, May 10 and last two days. The Lee University Last Chance Meet will take place Saturday, May 11. 

"We want to take the momentum from what people have done during the indoor season, especially if it was successful," Showler-Davis said. "On the individual level, I kind of like to look at the end of the indoor season as a midterm. If you are doing well, you want to carry that momentum through. If you don't have the grade you want right now, you still have time to turn it around". 

The 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor T&F Championships are set to take place in Emporia, Kan. from Thursday, May 23 to Saturday, May 25. The Eagles who qualify will attend the meet with the opportunity to leave with All-American status. 

The full 2024 outdoor track and field schedule can be found here: 

"We are ready to start fresh and get into the outdoor season," Showler-Davis said. 

Carson-Newman track and field will be back in action this weekend, Mar. 22 for a split weekend of competition. Stay up to date on cneagles.com.