SALISBURY, Md. -- The Christopher Newport track & field teams will participate in their final tune-up before the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championships this weekend when the Captains take part in the Eastern Shore Challenge on Saturday at Salisbury's Track & Field Complex.

Action gets underway with field events beginning at 11 a.m. The 3000-steeplechase will kick off track disciplines at 1:15 p.m.

Heading towards postseason competitions, Christopher Newport will send a full contingent to the Eastern Shore Challenge, which will serve as the squad's last regular season meet. Overall, 58 Captains are currently scheduled to take part in at least one event during the all-day competition.

Entering the weekend, Christopher Newport boasts four stars who rank among the top-25 nationally in their respective events. Headlining the group, John Vogel is 17th in the NCAA in the 1500 (3:50.47) and 18th in the 3000-steeplechase (9:19.70). Among other distance standouts, Kaitlyn Ardrey posted a school-record time of 36:40.52 in the women's 10,000 at the Colonial Relays, which slots her 21st on the national leaderboard.

Rounding out the top-ranked competitors, Jack Armel is 20th in the decathlon (5,497), while Alyssa Roach is 24th in the 100-hurdles (14.65).

Ardrey and Armel are both coming off award-winning appearances at the Dennis Craddock Coaches Classic last week. Ardrey and Daniel Fox were named the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Track Athletes of the Week, while Armel was named the men's top field athlete. Ardrey was honored after setting a program record in the 5,000 (17:33.22), while Fox jumped to the top of the conference in the 100 (10.70) and 200 (21.96).

Meanwhile, Armel posted the league's top effort in the pole vault this year after establishing a new PR with a 4.50-meter clearance on Saturday.

Along with the award-winners, several other Captains are coming off solid efforts last weekend. Adrianna DeSantis threw down the league's fastest 400 clocking (59.96), while Lindsey Stirling jumped to second in the 100 (12.88). Peyton Blanding also won the women's pole vault (3.35 meters), and Ethan Anderson moved to second in the league in the men's high jump (1.83 meters). Additionally, the men's 4x400-relay, led by Gage Elliott, Perry Spring, Brenton Duvall, and Cooper Albright, added the conference's top clocking this year after finishing in 3:22.15.

Following Saturday's meet, Christopher Newport will return to action with the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championships, which begin on May 6 at TowneBank Stadium.

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