Posted: Mar 21, 2025

I. Lanoy wins 3,000 meter steeplechase; Adkins finishes second in high jump at Charlotte 49er Classic

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Shawnee State sophomore distance running talent Isaiah Lanoy posted a victory of nearly seven full seconds in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and beat eight NCAA Division I athletes, Shawnee State freshman field athlete Eli Adkins jumped six feet, seven inches in the high jump, finished runner-up in the event and defeated eight additional NCAA Division I participants, and the SSU men's outdoor track and field program again posted a competitive effort following Friday's competition at the Charlotte 49er Classic, which was held at the Irwin Belk Track and Field Center in Charlotte, N.C.

As the only NAIA participant in the field outside of fellow teammate Jacob Naumovski, Lanoy, who posted a 9:26.93 to win the 16-runner 3,000 meter steeplechase, won by 6.78 seconds over second-place finisher Colton Kempney of Furman (S.C.) and ran over 26 seconds faster than every other steeplechase competitor in the field. Lanoy's time was just over 1.4 seconds off of a NAIA National 'B' Standard mark.

In all, Lanoy bettered eight NCAA Division I competitors from Furman, East Tennessee State and South Carolina Upstate as well as three NCAA Division II harriers and three NCAA Division III racers in the event.

"Isaiah running so close to the standard and his personal best in the steeplechase, while getting the win, is encouraging," Shawnee State Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Conner Flynn said. "Isaiah has a high ceiling in the steeplechase and we are excited for what is to come this season."

Adkins, who placed second with his six-foot, seven-inch jump, bettered eight additional NCAA Division I leapers from Charlotte, Davidson (N.C.), Duquesne (Pa.), Morgan State (Md.), South Carolina Upstate and Wofford (S.C.).

In addition to the duo, Dylan French ran a stout time in the 5,000 meter run -- as French, competing in the invite portion of the event, beat seven NCAA Division I runners from Charlotte and Davidson en route to a 14th place finish in the invite and a new personal best in the event -- a 14:43.20 that proved to be over nine seconds better than his previous best in the event. Between the invite as well as the 5,000 meter open, French ran a faster mark than 24 NCAA Division I competitors.

"Isaiah and Eli had great days, winning and placing near the top of their events," Flynn said. "It was great to see Eli jump what we've known he's capable of, and there's more left. Dylan French also had an outstanding day in the 5,000 meter invite section with a new personal best to move into the top-five all-time at SSU in the event."

In the open portion, Jerry O'Dell and Walker Pannell each posted personal bests of 16:13.42 and 16:36.90 to finish 45th and 50th respectively -- with Pannell's time being a personal best that was nearly 27 seconds better than his previous personal best of 17:03.49.

Luke Rader, who competed in a sprinting event as well as a field event, finished 16th and beat five NCAA Division I competitors with his 15.69 in the 110 meter hurdles. Rader also jumped 21 feet, seven-and-a-quarter inches to finish 21st overall in that event.

In the 400 meter dash, Cody Hesler bettered 11 NCAA Division I runners and Garrett McKinniss outran nine NCAA Division I harriers en route to 30th and 37th place finishes in the 400, and in the 100 meter dash, McKinniss (36th, 11.40) and Davin Heckard (38th, 11.47) beat nine NCAA Division I competitors while Bailey White (44th, 11.56) and Desean Garred (48th, 11.65) bettered seven NCAA D-I racers.

Lastly, in the 1,500 meter run, Trevor Lanoy, Kaiden Lanoy, Caden LaRue and Luke Butler finished 32nd (4:06.63), 36th (4:08.67), 41st (4:12.12), and 67th (4:31.08) respectively. Trevor Lanoy beat 10 NCAA D-I runners, Kaiden Lanoy and Caden LaRue bettered seven D-Is with LaRue setting a personal best that was better than three-and-a-half seconds, and Butler posted a mark that was over 11-and-a-half seconds better than his previous personal best.

Additional efforts are as follows:

Javelin -- Connor Ignacio, 22nd, 139 feet, six inches

5,000 meter run open -- Connor Blagg, 56th, 17:54.30

The women's and men's outdoor track and field programs will be back in action for what will be the final day of the Charlotte 49er Classic throughout the day on Saturday.