Eagles kickstart the new year with strong performances at UNC Asheville Collegiate Opener
Four athletes take the top step in their events, and an additional 12 get podium finishes
MILL SPRING, N.C. – As the calendar has flipped to the new year, the Carson-Newman indoor track & field team continues to perform in the early stages of the season. After over a month away from competition, the Eagles impressed at the UNC Asheville Collegiate Opener at Tryon International.
"I thought it was an encouraging first meet back. Some good performances from every event," head coach Kieran Showler-Davis said. "We can see the areas we need to work upon in practice heading into our next meet in two weeks."
On the track, C-N had two runners take home first place. Rylan Jordan continues to display his blistering pace, winning the 60m dash with a time of 6.76 seconds. His time is a hundredth off his PR that he set at the Colonel Bev Read Opener. The sophomore also took second place in the 200m race at 21.61 seconds.
Winning the 200m was Favour Ekpekpe, with a 21.51-second time. It is the first time since the 2025 outdoor season that the sophomore has run in the event. He also finished fourth in the 60m dash.
Emmett Watson rounded out an all-Eagle podium in the 200m, placing third with a time of 22.20. It is the first time in his collegiate career that he ran in the event.
A preseason SAC Athlete to Watch, Jenna Pittman, came in third place in the mile race, clocking 5:16.34. Pittman made her debut on Saturday after a strong junior campaign in cross country. She also took home seventh in the 800m race.
The other podium finishers were Trishanie Warner in third in the 200m with a PR of 25.26 seconds and the men's 4x400m relay team consisting of Emmett Watson, Noah Ricketts, Torance Brady and Jackson Thompson (3:27.77). Additionally, Alden Wetzel was third in the 60m hurdles, 8.41 seconds.
In the field events, Cadence Dolgin, the C-N pole vault record holder, continues his impressive freshman campaign, taking first place in pole vault, clearing 4.55m. Daniel Heath took fourth in the event at 3.80m.
The fourth Eagle to find the top step was Carlos Kouassi in the triple jump with 13.93m. The senior was named a SAC Athlete to Watch coming into the season.
Another senior, Brooke Taylor, had a great afternoon taking second in the triple jump, 11.30m, and third in the long jump, 5.59m. Meiah Moss was fourth in the long jump, 5.58m, a new PR for her, and Kendall Whitehead was fourth in the triple jump, 11.14m.
Elsewhere, Whitehead was tied for third in the high jump alongside C-N teammate Kellie Ivens at 1.47m.
Blayne Jackson had a pair of strong outings, placing fifth in the long jump, powered by a PR jump of 6.80m, and was second in the high jump at 1.98m. Rounding things out was Verrol Sam, who claimed third in the high jump, also clearing 1.98m.
"We had a fair few athletes missing from today's meet," Showler-Davis said. "So, I'm excited to potentially see some athletes that didn't compete today in the next meet and see further progress from those that did compete today."
Carson-Newman will return to action on January 23 and 24 at familiar sites. The squad will split up, with some members heading to the VMI Invitational and others attending the Liberty Open.
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