WINSTON SALEM, N.C.— Debuting for the first time this season, Tanner Stepp (Jefferson City, Tenn.) provisionally qualifies in the high jump as he and the rest of a selected group of Eagles wrapped up day one of events at the Camel City Classic Friday afternoon.
Forced to sit out the first three meets of the season, Stepp made his presence known in his first action this year. The sophomore leaped 2.14m in the men's high jump- a mark good enough for third-place in the event a provisional qualification for indoor nationals.
Stepp's impressive day moved the C-N jumper into a tie for third place in the nation for the high jumping event.
Along with Stepp, Christian Stumpf (Johnson City, Tenn.) also competed in the event Friday afternoon. The freshman recorded a 10th-place showing after concluding a 1.99m mark in the high jump.
Kevin Snead's (Richmond, Va.) debut season for Carson-Newman continues to ensure the sprinter as one of the fastest athletes in the nation in the 60m dash. The junior won the qualifying round after beating out all other 82 athletes with a 6.80 second time.
Snead's victory comes over World Decathlon Champion Ashton Eaton who finished with a time of 6.82 seconds. The finals for the 60m dash will commence Saturday afternoon at 2:55 p.m.
T.J Davis (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Timontrez Eady (Duval County, Fla.) took part in the men's high jump for C-N Friday afternoon and both finished with respectable marks.
Davis clinched a top-10 mark of 7.08m—good enough for seventh-place—and Eady claimed a 6.53m mark for a 21st-overall position.
The Eagles had two pole vaulters on the day who took home second-place finishes. Tori Gaul (Salisbury, N.C.) bested her current C-N record of 3.55m by elevating to a 3.65m mark. Marshall Shank (Granite Quarry, N.C.) kept pace on the men's side as well, completing the event with a 4.55m height.
Samantha Gudger (Bristol, Tenn.), who competed in the women's high jump, held steady with a 16th-best mark. The sophomore leaped 1.55m in the event.
Aside from Snead's 60m finals race, Saturday will play host to one more event that three Carson-Newman athletes will take part in. The men and women's triple jump is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. and Tianna Mills (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Randall Freeman (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Davis are all set to take part in the event.
"We look for our team to step up in big meets and several of our people did so today," coach David Needs said. "Kevin [Snead] had the fastest qualifying time in the 60m dash, Marshall [Shank] and Tori [Gaul] both did a great job in the pole vault and Tanner Stepp came back strong from an injury. I am so proud of everyone's effort and I love how this team competes and accepts big challenges."
A complete viewing of Friday's results can be found here and a final recap of the Camel City Classic will be issued Saturday following the day's events.
For complete coverage of Carson-Newman track and field, follow us on twitter at @CN_Track and online at cneagles.com.
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