The track team began its outdoor season this past weekend at the Winthrop Invitational in Rock Hill, S.C. Four Golden Eagles had top-five finishes, while several others placed in the top 11 of their events.
Keri Light won the 1500 meter run, finishing with a time of four minutes, 43.36 seconds.
Light also finished seventh in the 800 event.
Sophomore Ashley Mayhew rewrote the Tech record books with her record-setting efforts in the hammer throw event.
Mayhew’s throw of 131 feet, 7.5 inches earned a sixth-place finish, but it broke the Tech mark that had been held by Casey Stinson since 2003.
Mayhew also finished second in the shot put event.
“I am just thankful that God gave me the strength to throw,” Mayhew said,
“Ashley is a very strong thrower and she is improving every meet,” Coach Tony Cox said. “I think that by the end of the season she will be one of the top throwers in the OVC.”
Emily Weintzetl came within two seconds of the school record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1:00.91, finshing in 21st place.
Leayn Carter took sixth in the triple jump with a distance of 35 feet, 9.5 inches, flirting with Lauren Addie’s Tech record of 36 feet, 8.25 inches.
Katherine Lynn earned fifth-place honors in the high jump, while Rachel Forbes took a fifth-place finish in the javelin throw.
Tiffany Palmer and Ashley Evans took eighth and 11th place, respectively, in the 5000-meters.
“Despite raining most of the weekend, we had a pretty good meet,” Cox said. “We looked very strong, and I was satisfied with our first outdoor meet.”
No team points were awarded in the event. The invitational served as a warm-up for Tech’s meet this weekend in the Austin Peay Invitational.
