Final Results

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Katie Stevens rewrote the record books in the weight throw while headlining a solid all-around performance by the Christopher Newport track & field teams on Sunday during the CNU Qualifier & Combined Events at the Freeman Center.

In the weight throw, Stevens unleashed a 17.55-meter heave. That shattered her own school record of 16.32 meters, which she established earlier this season at the Holiday Open. It also set a new Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference standard, breaking the previous league mark of 16.47 meters by Mary Washington's Elysa Baker in 2016.

Continuing her historic afternoon, Stevens came back with a 13.16-meter launch in the shot put. That set a new PR and marked the fourth-longest toss in school history.

On the men's side, Dante Ntiganzwa also climbed the program's all-time performance list in the shot put. The senior fired a 15.03-meter effort, which matched the fourth-longest distance by a Captain. Incidentally, it equaled the effort by current teammate Tyler Palmer, who posted the same mark during last week's Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championships.

Along with his effort in the shot put, Ntiganzwa won the weight throw with a 17.20-meter performance. Meanwhile, in other field events, CJ Reeders landed a distance of 14.40 meters in the triple jump, which vaulted him into the top-20 on the national charts this year.

"This was the most "final qualifier-esque" atmosphere we have had with this meet. Lots of high tension, but small and quiet" said head coach Tyler Wingard, whose athletes notched 19 PRs during the competition. "The uniqueness of this type of meet is why we invest in taking our future nationals prospects to them early so they can experience it for themselves and be better prepared when they become the doorway to their nationals opportunities. That, on top of the challenge of competing after the emotional and physical high of the Conference Championships last weekend made this meet a real test for the team as a whole, and I think they handled it pretty well overall."

Along with the historic performances, Sydney Trussell won the women's 200 in 25.85, and Johnny Atienza took the men's 800 in 1:58.81. Ellie Nuckols and Jessica Hendricks also eclipsed 1.38 meters in the high jump, which equaled the top clearance at the competition.

Among other top finishers, Alex Guzman came in second in the women's long jump (5.03 meters) and third in the triple jump (10.64), while Ainsley Miller was third in the pole vault (3.05 meters). Rounding out the top marks in field events, Ben Hager landed a distance of 6.33 meters in the men's long jump.

On the track, Tom Foti was second in the men's 5000 (16:11.30), while Kayla Lopez was the runner-up in the women's event (20:06.35). Nuckols also was second in the 60-hurdles (9.24), Courtney Mudd finished third in the 800 (2:25.50), and Trussell added a fifth-place mark in the 60 (7.91).

For the men, Daniel Fox wrapped up the 60 in 7.02, Langley Forte completed the 200 in 24.60, and Matthew Ryan ran the 400 in 52.65. Later, Ryan teamed up with Marshall Mattison, John Laser, and Ben Hager for a time of 3:32.77 in the 4x400-relay.

Christopher Newport will return to action on March 2 at the South Region Final Qualifier in Winchester, Virginia.

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