ROCK HILL, S.C. - For the first time in his career, Shane Connell was named SAC Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week, announced by the conference on Tuesday, Apr. 26.
Connell takes home the honor after earning his fourth straight high jump event championship of the season, this time claiming victory at the LR Bears Outdoor Open on Saturday, Apr. 23.
The Manchester, England native was the lone competitor to clear 2.00 meters, beating out Levi Higgins of Mars Hill who cleared 1.95 meters.
The win is Connell's fourth straight of the season and his sixth career victory since arriving in Mossy Creek last year. He has cleared 2.00 meters ten times and has cleared 2.05 meters three times in his career, including tying his personal best at the Electric City Invitational in Anderson earlier this season
Connell has the most high jump wins in a row for the Eagles since Tanner Stepp won six straight event championships from the 2017 Bast-Cregger Invitational to the 2018 Montreat College Invitational. During that run, Stepp claimed the 2018 NCAA Division-II Indoor high jump national championship.
It is the third straight week that a Carson-Newman athlete has won the men's outdoor field athlete of the week award. Courtavious Garrett took home his first career honor on Apr. 19, while Joseph Oreva earned the award on Apr. 12.
This is the first time ever that a Carson-Newman athlete has won a weekly outdoor conference honor three weeks in a row since the award's inception in 2014.
Connell and the rest of the Eagle jumpers will prepare for the SAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Anderson, S.C. on May 5-6. A small convocation of Eagles will head to Nashville, Tenn. this weekend for the Outdoor Music City Challenge. Fans can follow along with the Carson-Newman track & field team at cneagles.com.
2022 SAC AstroTurf Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week
Mar. 22- Elliot Zirwas, Wingate Mar. 29- Martin Knauer, Queens Apr. 5- Simon Rey, Queens Apr. 12- Joseph Oreva, Carson-Newman Apr. 19- Courtavious Garrett, Carson-Newman Apr. 26 – Shane Connell, Carson-Newman
