ROCK HILL, S.C.- Carson-Newman track and field earned South Atlantic Conference WePlayed Sports Men's Track & Field Athlete of the week accolades, as well as Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the week honors yesterday, April 9, for the team's performance at the UT Invite.
"When we went to UT last week, we knew it would be a great place to run fast and jump far," head track and field coach David Needs said. "We went and executed, and I am proud of this group".
The Eagles swept the men's athlete of the week honors yesterday, April 5. The men's 4x100-meter relay team, consisting of Amine Kasmi, Quacy Virgo, Lucas Besong, and Dawson Jones, grabbed WePlayed Sports Men's Track Athlete(s) of the Week honors for their second-place finish at the UT Invite. The team finished with a season-best time of 40.64 and earned an NCAA Division II qualifying mark with their efforts. The quartet now holds the ninth fastest time in the event in NCAA DII.
"We tried to run the 4x100 earlier this season, and we had some injuries. We knew this was the weekend we had to do it," Needs said. "We went and had one of the fastest times in the nation. For our guys to be able to do that was great".
Oluwafemi Richards earned the men's field athlete of the week award. Richards placed third in the men's high jump with a 2.05-meter performance. He grabbed a provisional qualifying mark in the event with his new personal best performance, and he now holds the 20th best mark in the event in NCAA DII.
"What a blessing that was to watch Femi clear the height that he did and get a provisional mark," Needs said. "Femi is a guy that's invested in the program, and he does so many things for our campus. He's involved in a lot of different organizations, so he is just somebody that you are truly so happy for".
C-N women's track and field athlete, Kadidja Sangare, earned WePlayed Sports Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the week after a busy weekend at the UT Invite. Sangare finished sixth in the women's long jump with a season-best 5.78-meter leap. She now holds the 17th best mark in the event in NCAA DII. She also competed in the 100-meter hurdles where she finished 16th in 14.60. Sangare also competed in the women's javelin throw for the first time as an Eagle. She finished eighth with a 32.72-meter mark in the event.
"Kadidja showed why she is such a special athlete," Needs said. "To not only do well in the long jump and hurdles, but to come and say to me that she used to throw javelin six years ago and that she thinks she can throw and help us is such a compliment to her as an athlete".
Carson-Newman track and field will be back in action this Saturday, April 13 at the Asheville Bulldog Invite in Asheville, N.C. Stay up to date on cneagles.com.
