CLEVELAND, Tenn.- Carson-Newman track and field is headed home from the Lee University Last Chance Meet with new personal records and a plentitude of podium finishes.
"We had a good day. It was a hotter day than most of the meets we have been at this year, and that was also coupled with some mental and physical exhaustion coming off the conference meet last week. So, today was challenging, but we pulled through, and I am proud of the team effort," head track and field coach David Needs said.
Sade De Sousa won gold in the women's 100-meter dash finals with a time of 11.69 seconds after winning the prelims with her 11.78-second national qualifying time. In the first round of the men's 100-meter dash prelims, Tshenelo Lemao finished sixth with a national qualifying time of 10.67 seconds. Dawson Jones finished in 10.59 seconds to place 11th in the prelims. In the semifinals for the event, Makanakaishe Charamba placed fifth in 10.34 seconds.
"We had some run personal bests today like Ashwin Jood and Lauren Tabor in the 400. We are always excited to see that improvement," Needs said.
In the men's 400-meter dash, Jood placed second in 47.15, a new personal best. Tytiana Wilson finished fourth in the women's 400-meter dash. Wilson ran the race in 55.72 seconds. Teammate Tabor placed 18th in 58.80, a new personal record. Tabor had another personal best performance in the 200-meter dash for her 19th-place finish in 27.06.
In the men's 200-meter dash, Devon Moore placed third in 20.98 seconds.
In the women's 100-meter hurdles, Kadidja Sangare placed sixth in 14.29 seconds. Matthew Blackmon finished seventh in the men's 110-meter hurdles in 14.54.
"Susan Nelson had a personal best in the long jump today. There were a lot of mixed emotions as we watched athletes like Susan, Danielle D'Alesio, and Ben White compete their last time as Eagles. Words cannot do justice to what they have meant to us for the four years they have been part of our program. Their dedication will be missed," Needs said.
Sydney McCarty competed in the women's long jump and snagged silver in the event with a 5.98-meter leap. Brooke Taylor finished sevent with a 5.41-meter mark, and Nelson placed eighth with a 5.40-meter performance. Nelson set a new personal record in the event. Brooke Visser rounded out the top-10 with a 5.25-meter jump. In the men's long jump, Camden Fritz placed 16th with a 6.80-meter performance.
Taylor also competed in the women's triple jump where she placed eighth in 11.28-meters. Visser finished 10th with a 10.36-meter performance. Courtavious Garrett placed 10th on the men's side of the event with a 14.17-meter mark.
Jade Mattison competed in the women's discus throw and finished 12th with a 21.67-meter mark.
"Imke Van Gog also ran a personal best today in the 5k. All around, we are proud of the effort every one of our athletes made today," Needs said.
Van Gog ran the women's 5,000-meter race and placed 13th in 18:11.26. Katie Smock placed 19th in the event in 18:32.85.
"On Sunday, Coach Potts-Howard will take McCarty, Garrett, and Jood to Mount Olive for the Last Chance Meet there since all three are very close to being ranked in the top-20 and a trip to nationals," Needs said.
A small pack of Eagles will be back in action tomorrow, May 14, at the Mount Olive Final Qualifier at the Ray McDonald Sr. Sports Complex in Mount Olive, N.C.
