Smoky Mountain Today

Carson-Newman Track and Field is set to send three athletes to the 2023 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships beginning Friday, Mar. 10.

"In Division II, just to provisionally qualify for Nationals is a major acheivement. We had six men in eight events and five women in six events do that which puts them in the top 50 in the nation," head track and field coach David Needs said. 

For the men, Makanakaishe Charamba was selected to attend the national meet for two separate events. Charamaba secured his ticket to the championships with a 6.72-second performance in the 60-meter dash as well as a 20.99-second seed time in the 200-meter dash.

Both performances afforded Charamba first-place finishes and new personal records. Charamba ran the fastest 200-meter dash of his career at the DII Indoor Track and Field Pre-Nationals and his top performance in the 60-meter dash at last week's 2023 SAC Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Over the course of the 2022-2023 indoor season, Charamba has stood atop the podium four separate times. His efforts contributed to a third-place finish at the SAC Championships for Carson-Newman men's track and field.

"To make it to indoor nationals, they take the top 16, so it is very tough. That is why many schools don't make it to nationals. For Makanakaishe, Sade, and Kadidja to qualify is great because they aren't looking to just go out, but to win," Needs said. 

Kadidja Sangare and Sade De Sousa were selected to attend the 2023 NCAA Division II Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships. Both athletes contributed to a fourth-place finish for the women's track and field team at SAC Championships last weekend.

Sangare was selected to attend to the national meet for her 6.00-meter seed mark in the women's long jump. Sangare secured a third-place finish at the VMI Invitational in January with her performance. Over the course of the 2022-2023 indoor season, Sangare has locked down two first-place finishes, as well as two bronze medals at the recent SAC Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Sade De Sousa is set to race in the 60-meter dash after she secured a 7.41-second seed time at the VMI Invitational earlier this season. Her efforts afforded her first place in the event. De Sousa not only set a personal record with her qualifying time, but she also broke the Namibian senior women's 60-meter dash record in her home country for the second time in two months after breaking it during the Bast-Cregger Invitational in early December. De Sousa has two first-place finishes on the season, as well as a slew of spots on the podium.

"This is the 16th straight National Championship appearance which speaks to the quality of our athletes and to our consistency. I am so pleased to be represented by both males and females at the championships as this was a major goal for us this season," Needs said. 

Carson-Newman track and field will close out the indoor season by sending three Eagles to compete at the 2023 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday, Mar. 10 and Saturday, Mar. 11. Stay up to date on cneagles.com.

Original source can be found here