ROCK HILL, S.C.- Carson-Newman women's track and field finished third in the SAC Preseason Poll with 120 points, the conference announced Tuesday, Mar. 19. The men finished fourth in the voting with 107 points. 

"It definitely gives us some confidence," associate director of track and field Kieran Showler-Davis said. "Especially because our conference is so prominent in the national landscape. It's nice to see us up there in the voting". 

Carson-Newman women's track and field grabbed the No. 3 spot in the 2024 South Atlantic Conference Women's Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Poll with 120 points in the voting. C-N was bested only by Wingate with 142 points and Lenoir-Rhyne with 135 points.

Sade De Sousa and Kadidja Sangare were named Women's Outdoor Athletes to Watch. The two indoor All-Americans were listed on the 2024 outdoor season watch list. Sangare competed in the women's long jump at the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships on Friday, Mar. 8, at 2:00 p.m. She qualified for the finals and finished eighth in the event with a 5.93-meter leap. Sangare became a First Team All-American with her performance and the 59th All-American for Carson-Newman track and field since 2015. De Sousa competed in the women's 60-meter dash finals the following afternoon, Mar. 9. De Sousa ran the finals in 7.39 seconds, a new season best time. She grabbed fifth in the event and earned First Team All-American honors for her efforts. 

Carson-Newman men's track and field finished fourth in the 2024 South Atlantic Conference Men's Outdoor Track & Field Preseason Poll with 107 points. Wingate placed first in the voting with 143 points, Lenoir-Rhyne finished second with 134 points, and Tusculum rounded out the top-three teams with 112 points. 

Amine Kasmi and Verrol Sam were named Men's Outdoor Athletes to Watch. Kasmi won gold in the men's 200-meter dash finals in 21.70 seconds at the 2024 South Atlantic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships. During the first week of the outdoor season, Kasmi grabbed first in the 200 again in 20.83 at the LR Bears Open. He holds the current fastest time in the event in Division II. Sam also grabbed gold at the LR Bears Open this past Saturday, Mar. 16. In the men's high jump, Sam finished in first place with a 2.10-meter mark in the event. 

"Outdoor is underway, so hopefully throughout the season, we can move our position even higher," Showler-Davis said. 

The Eagles head into the outdoor season ranked third and fourth in preseason polls. Carson-Newman track and field will be back in action this Friday, Mar. 22 for a split weekend of competition. Stay up to date on cneagles.com.