Poppe Crowned National Champion in 5000M

Virginia Beach, Va. – Luca Poppe was crowned national champion on Day One of the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Friday night.

Poppe breezed past the field in the 5000 meters, crossing the line in 13:47.22. He finished ahead of Dawson Gunn of Colorado School of Mines and Koby Fraaza of Grand Valley State.

Poppe was one of three First Team All-Americans for the navy blue and Vegas gold-clad Bulldogs on Friday. Senior Lars Laros finished sixth in the men's 5000 meters with a time of 13:52.38. Laros earns his second consecutive First Team All-America honor in the indoor 5000 meters.

Wingate added one point in the men's distance medley relay. The quartet of Niels Peeters, Deon Sumpter, Levente Palvolgyi and Arthur Faroux finished in eighth place with a time of 9:46.87.

Lenoir-Rhyne earned eight points in the long jump. Tobechukwu Nwokocha posted a leap of 7.71 meters to earn the silver medal in the event.

Carson-Newman had two athletes advance to the indoor national championship finals. Rylan Jordan qualified for the 60-meter final, while Amine Kasmi advanced in his event as well.

Jordan finished second in his heat to earn an automatic qualifying spot, posting the seventh-fastest time overall.

Tusculum University junior Lansford Cunningham earned All-America honors in the men's long jump.

Senior Jahzara Hart advanced to Saturday's finals in both the women's 60 meters and 200 meters. Hart will run in the 60-meter final at 4:20 p.m. Saturday and the 200-meter final at 5:55 p.m.

Cunningham is the first Tusculum field athlete, male or female, to earn indoor All-America honors with his sixth-place finish on Friday.

Catawba College seniors Victor Smith and Miles Stephens punched their tickets to the finals of the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash, respectively, with top seed times at the championship.

Day Two of the Indoor Championships will feature 12 more scoring events.