Christopher Newport Runs Away With First CAC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Title
The Christopher Newport men's track & field team won the program's first-ever CAC outdoor championship as the Captains capitalized on four individual titles to claim the conference crown on Saturday at Frostburg State's Bobcat Stadium.
Sweeping both the indoor and outdoor conference titles this year, the Captains posted 200 points to out-distance runner-up Salisbury by 57. Wesley finished third overall with 91 points, while York (66), Penn State Harrisburg (47), Frostburg State (40) and Mary Washington (32) rounded out the team scores.
Christopher Newport notched four individual titles, including the only championship meet record of the weekend from Charles Pruitt in the 10,000 meters on Friday. Pruitt raced to a meet record time of 32:45.73 to give CNU the early lead on day one. Other individual champions for the Captains included Evan Fabish in the 3,000 steeplechase (9:41.09), Wesley Shrieves in the high jump (1.93m), and Jonathan Graham in the pole vault (4.55m).
Salisbury was paced by yet another standout performance from senior Luke Campbell in the final CAC meet of his career. Campbell captured four gold medals, two individually and two as part of relays. He won the 110 hurdles (13.94) and 400 hurdles (52.04) individually, and anchored the winning 4x100 and 4x400 relays. The 4x100 team consisted of Campbell, Jack McCloskey, Eric Schmelz, and Jerel Madison, while the 4x400 squad featured Campbell, Schmelz, Madison, and Eric Halton.
Schmelz, George Martinez, Mathew Adedeji and Mike Millemann also notched first-place finishes for the Sea Gulls. Schmelz won the 400 meters at 48.75, Martinez crossed first in the 1,500 at 4:03.06, Adedji won the triple jump with a leap of 13.96m, and Millemann won the javelin at 51.39m.
Wesley's Anthony Simpson continued his strong freshman campaign with a victory in the 100 meters at 10.44 seconds. Carlton Sheppard was also victorious for the Wolverines in the 800 at 1:55.02, while De'Vaughn Trader won the lonj jump at 7.20m.
York was led by golds from Darnell Tillman and Grant Dell. Tillman won the 200 meters at 21.06, while Dell raced to first in the 5,000 at 15:30.95 for the Spartans.
Penn State Harrisburg made the biggest jump in the standings at this year's meet, posting 47 points in just its second year of CAC competition. The Lions more than quadrupled last year's total of 10 points at the outdoor meet. Cameron Yon led the Lions with an individual title in the discus at 49.69m.
Frostburg State's J.R. Lowery posted another memorable perforance at a CAC meet with titles in the shot put and hammer throw. Lowery won the shot put with a toss of 17.33m, and the hammer at 53.28m.
Mary Washington was led by second-place finishes from Ben Sorensen in the 5,000 and Daniel Forjan in the shot put.
Final Standings
1. Christopher Newport - 200
2. Salisbury - 143
3. Wesley - 91
4. York - 66
5. Penn State Harrisburg - 47
6. Frostburg State - 40
7. Mary Washington - 32