ALLENDALE, Mich. - Devon Moore continued his dominant senior season while Sterling Melancon earned second-team All-American honors on day one of the NCAA DII Outdoor National Championships.
"I'm very proud of our sprinters. They were well prepared by (sprints coach) Kieran Showler Davis," says Director of Track & Field and Cross Country David Needs. "Devon ran a tactical race and won his heat. He ran like a seasoned veteran. "Sterling is another All-American to go on the wall. As a true freshman he has had an amazing season. We couldn't be prouder of both of them and the future is bright."
Moore ran in the first heat of the event with fellow SAC members Marlin Davis of Lenoir-Rhyne and conference champion Javaris Michael of Limestone. Moore was also paired with Nigel Green of Southern Connecticut State, whom Moore finished the regular season with tied for the second-fastest time in the nation in the 100 meter run.
Moore's time of 10.37 seconds was good enough to pass Michael to earn first-place in the heat and move him onto the finals on Saturday, May, 29. Moore finished third-place overall in the prelims as Benjamin Azamati of West Texas A&M finished first-place in the prelims with a time of 10.04 seconds. Texas A&M-Commerce's J.T. Smith finished just 0.01 seconds ahead of Moore with a time of 10.36 seconds to take second-place.
Faster than a speeding bullet.@ReallVon continues to fly around the track, taking first place in his heat and third place overall in the prelims of the 100 meter run with a time of 10.37 seconds.
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) May 27, 2021
The @CN_Track senior will race in the finals on Saturday, May, 29 at 2:00 PM pic.twitter.com/Vbx65aH0Fz
This is now the 13th time Moore has competed in the 100 meter run. He has never finished lower than third, taking home bronze at the 2019 NCAA DII Outdoor National Championships.
Sterling Melancon had a solid showing at his first ever run at the NCAA Championships. The SAC Freshman of the year was paired in a heat with the one-seeded Azamati and finished fifth in his heat and 11th overall. This is just the second time between the indoor and outdoor track seasons that Melancon has finished outside of the top-10 in a race, both times finishing 11th.
Melancon's finish earns him second-team All-American honors for the first time in his career and makes him the third different Eagle to earn All-American honors between the indoor and outdoor track seasons.
Melancon is the first Carson-Newman track & field freshman to earn All-American honors of any kind since the 2018 indoor season when teammate Devon Moore earned his first career honors in the 60 meter run.
With a run of 10.51 seconds, @sterling949 finishes 11th overall in the 100 meter run at the NCAA National Championships and clinches second-team All-American honors @CN_Track pic.twitter.com/PnzBDCSYwc
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CNathletics) May 27, 2021
The week in Allendale continues for the Eagles tomorrow, May, 28, at 2:00 P.M. as Isaiah Kyle will compete in the high jump. Moore will run another preliminary race, competing in the prelims for the 200 meter run at 2:45 PM. Live stats and live video can be found at ncaa.com. Fans can also follow along with live updates on twitter at @cnathletics.
