Freshman Gavin Nelson continued his standout season for the Monmouth Hawks track and field team by capturing a Colonial Athletic Association outdoor championship in the high jump at the CAA Outdoor Championships in Elon, North Carolina.

Nelson cleared 2.12 meters to earn the gold medal while also setting a new Monmouth program record in the event. The Jim Thorpe graduate helped the Hawks men’s team place fifth overall out of 13 teams with 104.5 points.

Monmouth head coach Jordan Torney praised the team’s performance throughout the weekend.

“I’m extremely proud of how our team performed at CAA’s,” Torney said in a release. “We have a very talented young group and my main message to the team was to relax and compete.”

Nelson was one of three individual champions for the Hawks during the meet. Evan Niedrowski won the javelin with a meet-record throw of 71.87 meters, while Julie Thomas captured the women’s shot put title with a mark of 15.34 meters.

The weekend also helped Nelson qualify for the NCAA East Regionals, scheduled for May 27-30 in Lexington, Kentucky. He will be joined by teammates Evan Niedrowski and Maggie Hansen.

Monmouth recorded three gold medals, nine total podium finishes, four school records and 24 all-time top-10 marks during the championship meet.