PITTSBURG, Kan. - After winning the SAC Indoor Championship in the long jump, Joseph Oreva heads west to Pittsburg, Kan. to compete in the event at the NCAA Division-II National Championships.

Oreva qualified as the number 14 seed in the long jump, tied with Morgan Fawver of Chadron State with a jump of 7.43 meters. Oreva recorded his jump at the 2022 SAC Indoor Championships this weekend, where he needed just one jump to claim his second straight SAC Championship and first medal at the indoor championships in the event.

This is the second straight season that Oreva has qualified for the NCAA D-II Indoor National Championships. Last season, Oreva entered as the number one seed with a mark of 7.84 meters, a mark that broke the school record from 1977 set by Larry Cooke.

Oreva finished fourth at the 2021 event in Birmingham, Ala. with a jump of 7.46 meters, just 0.03 meters higher than his current season high. The jump gave Oreva his first career All-American honors. 

"It's going to be interesting to see what Joseph can do this weekend," says Director of Track & Field and Cross Country David Needs. "When Joseph is healthy, he can easily win the national championship. But even last year and this season when he was banged up, Oreva was an All-American and won a conference title. Hopefully he can stay fit and if he does his job and listens to jumps coach (Kris) Potts-Howard, he has a chance to do something great."

This season, Oreva has competed at just two meets in the long jump, winning both event championships. The sophomore from Nigeria won the Tiger Paw Classic in Louisivlle, Ky. with a jump of 7.24 meters. 

In his career, Oreva has competed in the long jump eight times across the indoor and outdoor seasons, with six event championships. His lowest finish was sixth at the 2021 Lee Last Chance Meet. 

Thanks to Oreva, the Eagles have had at least one competitor qualify for the NCAA Indoor National Championships in eight straight seasons, including the cancelled 2020 championships. Pittsburg, Kan., where the 2022 championships are located, has been kind to Carson-Newman. Tanner Stepp won the national championship in the high jump at the 2018 event with a jump of 2.17 meters. 

Oreva will compete with 16 other athletes from all over Division-II. The top-eight will move on to the finals after three jumps and will then move onto the championship round where they will have three more attempts. Oreva has the fifth-best time in his flight this season, tied with Fawver of Chadron State. Peyton Turnage of Lincoln (Mo.) holds the best time this season in flight one with a jump of 7.50 meters. Oreva does hold the best career mark of all 16 competitors.

Christopher Goodwin of Central Missouri holds the number one seed with a jump of 7.67 meters earlier this season. 

The event will begin at 5:50 PM. Fans can follow along with live stats here and with a live video stream here