NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In their first time running together as a team this season, the men's 4x100 meter relay team broke the school record in the event, winning the event championship at the Outdoor Music City Challenge at Vanderbilt on Saturday, Apr. 30.
The quartet of PJ Lotharp, Makanakaishe Charamba, Siphosethu Boya and Devon Moore won the race with a time of 40.44 seconds, beating out Division-I Arkansas State by 0.78 seconds in the event. The team also beat out the teams from no. 23 ranked D-II Lindenwood and UT-Martin.
The time beats the school record mark of 40.59 seconds set earlier in the year by Boya, Charamba, Lotharp and Tshenelo Lemao at the Electric City Invite just seven days ago in Anderson, S.C.
The mark is also the tenth-fastest time in all of Division-II, beating out Pittsburg State for the top-10 spot by 0.07 seconds.
�� Another school record
— Carson-Newman Athletics (@CN_Eagles) April 30, 2022
9⃣th fastest time in the country
�� Another event win
Oh, and it was the first time this group raced together
Maka Charamba, Sipho Boya, @ReallVon and PJ Lotharp were flying in the music city today @CN_Track pic.twitter.com/VhsH5w3PrY
Boya's day was not done, as the sprinter finished second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.30 seconds. That mark ties Boya with Louis Rollins of Pittsburg State for the tenth fastest time in Division-II. That time is also a new personal best.
His teammates Moore and Lotharp finished behind Boya at third and fourth in the event. Moore finish third with a time of 10.40 seconds, while Lotharp finished fourth with a time of 10.42 seconds.
"We performed extremely well today," says Director of Track & Field and Cross Country David Needs. "For Von to race that well coming off of an injury is really good. And for this group to show their might in their first race of the season together is impressive heading into the conference championships. We raced a lot of good competition and to come out on top is truly a blessing and a testament to the coaching of (sprints coach) Kieran Showler-Davis."
The Eagles will prepare for the SAC Outdoor Championships in Anderson, S.C. beginning on Thursday, May 5. Fans can keep up with the action at cneagles.com.
