KINGSVILLE, Texas – Jahvad McDermott secured second-team All-American honors with a person collegiate best 15.31 meter jump in the triple jump Friday evening at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships Thursday at Javelinas Stadium.
After a 14.77 meter effort to open the day, he improved that number to 15.31 meters topping his previous career high of 15.17 meters posted at the Montreat Last Chance Twilight on May 11.
"Jahvad wants to compete for championships," coach David Needs said. "Through time he is going to appreciate what did today more and more. His dad and sister saw him compete in Carson-Newman garb for the first time. If you have a kid that jumps his collegiate best at nationals, that's all you can ask for. You have to be proud of the effort."
Overall he posted the 10th-best jump of the 20 student-athletes at the event. McDermott missed qualifying for the finals by 0.05 meters producing a fault on his final try in the first group to attempt the triple jump.
Thanks to a 15.31 meter jump on his second try, Jahvad McDermott sits in fourth place through the first three jumps of group one.
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) May 24, 2019
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One other Carson-Newman track athlete participated Friday as Devon Moore ran in a preliminary heat of the 200 meters. Running in lane one against a loaded field that included the national champion from a year ago in lane eight, Moore kicked it into gear cutting the corner. He finished with a time of 21.06 seconds to finish with the third-fastest qualifying time. His heat featured four of the eight men that will compete for a national championship on Saturday.
"The wind is ridiculous down here," Needs said. "He came around the curve and ran the third fastest time which is astounding. [Assistant coach] Kieran [Showler-Davis] did a great job getting him prepared to run. He has two chances to run for national championships tomorrow."
�� @ReallVon showed off the wheels once again. He produced the third-fastest qualifying time in @NCAADII with a 21.06 in the 200 meters to run for national championship Saturday at 8:55. pic.twitter.com/UmKPFuuump
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) May 24, 2019
Through two days, the Eagles have produced three All-Americans with three more chances to solidify that status on Saturday seeing the team have a chance to produce a top honor in every spot that it runs during its time in the Lonestar State.
"You have to be pleased," Needs said. "We had a good night last night. It's a cause to celebrate for sure. Every kid has made the finals, been an All-American or are competing for national championship tomorrow. That's hard to do."
Moore will get the night started at 7:45 p.m. eastern time with running in lane five of the 100 meters after producing the second-fastest qualifying time on Thursday. He will occupy lane eight in the 200 a little more than an hour later at 8:55. The event concludes for the Eagles at 9:30 as Luke Greer starts in 21st of the men's 5,000 meters.
Video and live results will be provided by clicking the hyperlinks or visiting NCAA.com to watch the Orange and Blue's attempt to acquire more hardware.
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