Final Results

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- For the fourth straight year, the Christopher Newport track & field teams swept the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Indoor Championships as the Captains amassed eight more individual titles during Saturday's action at the Freeman Center.

The men claimed the team crown with 202 points, out-distancing runner-up UC Santa Cruz by 41. The women were equally impressive as the Captains secured 198 points, which also topped the second-place Banana Slugs by 58.

On an individual level, Daniel Fox and Sydney Trussell were celebrated as the Track Athletes of the Meet. Meanwhile, Katie Stevens was named the Women's Field Athlete of the Meet for the second straight year.

"The team did a great job of executing from start to finish as demonstrated by scoring at or above our expected points in just about every event," said head coach Tyler Wingard. "38 Team PRs, 8 new All-Time Performances, a Championships Meet Record, and 3 Athletes of the Meet is a pretty good haul."

Headlining Saturday's action, Trussell and freshman Ashley Eley both grabbed a pair of individual titles. Trussell snatched the 200 (26.15) and 400 (1:00.32) while also placing third in the 60 (7.97). Making her championship debut, Eley added triumphs in the 60-hurdles (9.90) and triple jump (10.81 meters).

Rounding out the champions on the women's side, Stevens took the shot put with a 12.68-meter launch. The third-year phenom swept both throwing events during the meet after claiming the weight throw on Friday.

The men also walked away with three crowns on Saturday. Fox won the 60 in 6.97 and came in second in the 200 with a 22.79 mark. Later, the Captains added several historic efforts in the field events. Wade Dunkelberger finished first in the high jump with a 2.04-meter clearance, which marked the third-highest leap in school history. Meanwhile, Tyler Palmer won his third straight indoor shot put title with a 15.03-meter launch. That vaulted him to fourth on the school's all-time performance list.

In addition to Palmer, CNU swept the top-five spots in the shot put. Daniel Young was the runner-up with a 14.44-meter heave, which stands eighth in school history. Seth Morris also climbed to ninth all-time after unloading a 14.41-meter toss, which placed him third in the field. Rounding out the top competitors, Dante Ntiganzwa was fourth (14.16), and Ben Varner came in fifth (13.03).

Along with the victors, several standouts earned All-Conference nods after placing second in their respective events. Ben Hager was the runner-up in the 400 (50.85), Daniel Ferrante came in second in the mile (4:19.77), Latrell Fomby matched that finish in the pole vault (3.86 meters), and CJ Reeders did the same in the triple jump (14.19 meters).  Hager, Eli Wilson, John Laser, and David Keroack also placed second in the 4x400-relay with a time of 3:28.07.

For the women, three Captains brought home All-League nods after placing second behind their own teammates on Saturday. Ellie Nuckols shined in the 400 (1:00.59), Annabelle Dreher excelled in the shot put (10.71 meters), and Alex Guzman was a standout in the triple jump (10.77 meters).

Among other top performers for the women, Courtney Mudd was fourth in the mile (5:23.04), Sarah Dake placed fourth in the 3000 (10:50.56), and Didi Dasilva finished sixth in the 800 (2:32.42). The 4x400-relay, which featured Eleanor Eungard, Jessica Hendricks, Elizabeth Lacombe, and Ainsley Miller, also came in fourth in 4:27.58.

On the men's side, Johnny Atienza was third in the 800 (1:59.05), Ferrante finished fourth in the 3000 (8:50.29), and Logan Pena-Bandalo wrapped up the top performers with a fifth-place showing in the 60-hurdles after crossing in 9.29.

With the conference title meet in the books, Christopher Newport will now set its sights on the NCAA Championships, which will take place in Virginia Beach beginning on March 10. The Captains will return to action with the CNU Qualifier & Combined Events starting on February 24 at the Freeman Center.

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