Clayton Rankin
Sydney Smith

Men's Track & Field

Captains Win Eight Events as Christopher Newport Track & Field Caps Off Indoor Home Slate on Sunday at CNU Qualifier

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NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- 
Punctuating the indoor home slate in impressive fashion, the Christopher Newport track & field teams won eight events during the CNU Qualifier on Sunday afternoon at the Freeman Center.

Headlining the victors, Rylee Ehrett won the women's weight throw with a 15.26-meter launch. That added over a foot onto her previous PR and made her just the second Captain in program history to eclipse 50 feet in the event. In that exclusive club, she joined former All-American Katie Stevens, who set the school record with a 17.80-meter toss last winter.

CNU also swept the throwing events on the men's side. Ben Varner captured the weight throw with a 15.84-meter heave, which marked the ninth-longest toss in program history. Meanwhile, Seth Morris took the shot put with a 15.91-meter distance.

On the track, the Captains dominated the distance events. Sarah Dake sliced two seconds off her personal-best in the mile after crossing the line in 5:14.19. That bumped her to ninth on the school's all-time performance list. Additionally, Clayton Rankin carved two seconds off his PR in the 3000 after winning the race in 8:45.54, while Kevin Farnsworth captured the mile in 4:42.67. He just beat teammate TJ Brown, who finished a split second behind in 4:42.91.

Rounding out the victorious standouts, Ashley Eley claimed the women's high jump with a 1.54-meter clearance, and Annaka Busenlehner became the first Captain in two years to top eight seconds in the 60 after she crossed the line in 7.99.

In other events on the women's side, Danielle Hollington was second in the 200 (26.65) and third in the 400 (59.84), while Ellie Nuckols was the runner-up in both the 60-hurdles (9.17) and long jump (5.26 meters). Along with the multi-event stars, Katelyn White was second in the 800 (2:30.93), Lena Blagg matched that finish in the 3000 (10:49.34), and Kayla Asprey was the runner-up in the shot put (12.32 meters). Lily Knowles also chipped in with the third-best mark in the pole vault after eclipsing 3.02 meters.

For the men, Eli Wilson came in second in the 400 (51.39), David Kayembe was third in the long jump (6.59 meters), and Leo Brennan added a fifth-place showing in the triple jump (12.95 meters). Jahi Jemison and Sam Anania also led the Captains with a pair of fourth-place efforts. Jemison was fourth in the 60-hurdles, including a time of 8.64 in the prelims, while Anania had an equally successful performance in the pole vault after clearing 4.32 meters.

Meanwhile, Dylan Defoor posted Christopher Newport's fastest time in the 60 (7.17), and Tyler Obaugh led the squad in the 200 (23.74).
 
"In spite of the flu bug running through the team after last week's conference championships, the group did a good job of building on their big performances and putting a few more technical details together," said head coach Tyler Wingard, whose squads produced 30 total PRs during Sunday's action. "Now we just need to get our 'bubble group' off the nationals bubble and into the meet with performances next week at Shenandoah and Tufts."

CNU will return to action on Friday with the start of the South Region Final Qualifier in Winchester, Virginia.

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Players Mentioned

Katie Stevens

Katie Stevens

Throws
5' 8"
Senior
Leo Brennan

Leo Brennan

Sprints, Jumps
6' 3"
Senior
Dylan Defoor

Dylan Defoor

Sprints
Sophomore
Kevin Farnsworth

Kevin Farnsworth

Distance
Junior
Jahi Jemison

Jahi Jemison

Multis
6' 2"
Sophomore
Clayton Rankin

Clayton Rankin

Distance
Junior
Eli Wilson

Eli Wilson

Sprints
6' 0"
Junior
Seth Morris

Seth Morris

Throws
6' 0"
Junior
Ben Varner

Ben Varner

Throws
Senior
TJ Brown

TJ Brown

Distance
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Katie Stevens

Katie Stevens

5' 8"
Senior
Throws
Leo Brennan

Leo Brennan

6' 3"
Senior
Sprints, Jumps
Dylan Defoor

Dylan Defoor

Sophomore
Sprints
Kevin Farnsworth

Kevin Farnsworth

Junior
Distance
Jahi Jemison

Jahi Jemison

6' 2"
Sophomore
Multis
Clayton Rankin

Clayton Rankin

Junior
Distance
Eli Wilson

Eli Wilson

6' 0"
Junior
Sprints
Seth Morris

Seth Morris

6' 0"
Junior
Throws
Ben Varner

Ben Varner

Senior
Throws
TJ Brown

TJ Brown

Freshman
Distance