Interview:  David Neeeds

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.—Coach David Needs will send the bulk of his track and field squad to the Shorter Invitational in Rome, Ga. while also sending three pole vaulters to compete at the Winthrop Adidas Invitational in Rock Hill, S.C. this weekend as the second week of the outdoor season commences for Carson-Newman.

"One of our coaches are going to take our pole vaulters down to Winthrop. It's a little bit different of a place. Most of the athletes we are sending are from North Carolina, so it's closer to home for them," Needs said. "The rest of us will be at Shorter and we are excited about the competition we will be facing. This will be a great meet and a great test for us."

The Shorter Invitational will present some challenges for Carson-Newman as a number of prominent programs will be competing.

Tiffin, whose men's squad won the 2016 NCAA Division II Indoor Team National Championship in Pittsburg, K.S. on March 11 and 12 will be present throughout the weekend, as will a number of other power squads such as Valdosta State, West Georgia and Anderson from the Southeast Region.

The Winthrop Adidas Invitational will play host to three Carson-Newman pole vaulters on the weekend, as Tori Gaul (Salisbury, N.C.), Cassie Kawalski (Salisbury, N.C.) and Marshall Shank (Granite Quarry, N.C.) will look to improve on their marks set in last week's season-opening meet at the Power Sox Invitational.

Carson-Newman saw six top-showings a week ago with Kevin Snead (Richmond, Va.) and Tanner Stepp (Jefferson City, Tenn.) provisionally qualifying for the 2016 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships in the men's 100 meter dash and high jump.

Snead provisionally qualified in the men's 100m dash following a first-place finish of 10.56 seconds. The junior also recorded the fastest 200m dash time in Carson-Newman history after completing another first-place time of 21.51 seconds in the event.

Stepp's provisionally qualification came in the men's high jump. The sophomore picked up right where he left off a year ago where the jumper recorded a ninth-place finish at the 2015 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a 2.11m leap in the sophomore's outdoor debut.

Other Carson-Newman athletes who recorded first-place showings at the Power Sox Invitational included T.J. Davis (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Lachlan Dickie (Knoxville, Tenn.).

Davis completed the men's long jump with a 6.83m mark and Dickie wrapped up the men's 5000m run with a 15:38.25 time.

On the women's side, two athletes tallied first-place finishes a week ago as Gaul stretched her success she had in the indoor season with a 3.50m tally in the women's pole vault. Tiana Mills (Chattanooga, Tenn.) also placed first in the women's triple jump with an 11.54m mark.  

A complete recap following Saturday's events can be found at cneagles.com and live updates throughout the day can be seen on twitter at @CN_Track.

-CN-