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The University of Cincinnati track & field programs had a solid first day at the Gladstein Invitational as they posted 18 career best performances in Bloomington, Indiana.
At the top of the list of setting career marks is senior Frida Akerstrom, who broke her own school record in the shot put with a toss of 51' 6.5". The throw surpassed her previous best by almost a full foot and won her the event. Mekayla Breland also threw a career best of 49' 9" to claim second not only in the event but also the UC records book. Annette Echikunwoke and Leah Heckaman finished fourth and fifth, respectively, with personal best throws as well, and the two of them sit fifth and sixth in UC history.
In the men's throws, Josh Province hurled a career best in the weight throw of 57' 5.5" to earn seventh overall.
Additional quality performances in the field events came from Rebecka Abrahamsson, Erika Hurd and Ashleigh Pickens. Abrahamsson won the triple jump with a leap of 40' 4.75". Hurd suffered her first defeat in the high jump by taking second with a clearance of 5' 10.5", but Pickens had a career day by reaching 5' 6.5", which is her all-time best.
UC distance runner Toby Loveridge impressed on the track as he ran the men's 3,000-meter run in a time of 8:20.35 to snatch sixth overall. His time moves him to fourth in the Bearcats' records book.
In the 400-meter dash, Kenya Woodall and Kevin Konkoly both were selected to be in the invitational heats, and neither of them disappointed. Woodall won the event with ease as she crossed the line at 54.58, while Konkoly was the runner-up with a time of 49.35.
Prelims for the 60-meter dash and 60-meter hurdles boded well for the Bearcats too.
In the 60-meter dash, Tevin Lloyd-Thompson and Sergio Acera Villanueva both qualified for the finals. Lloyd-Thompson enters tomorrow's finals third, and Villanueva enters with the fifth fastest time. On the women's side, Kellsa Mbah squeaked into the finals with an eighth place finish.
Je'Rica Sanders took first in the prelims of the 60-meter hurdles for the women with a time of 8.51, and she will be joined by Javette Lee, who ran the fourth fastest time of 8.79. On the men's side, Bryan Cain is the long Bearcat in the finals as he took third in the prelims with a time of 8.07.
Day two of the Gladstein Invitational begins at 10 a.m. with the completion of the men's heptathlon. The full meet schedule resumes at 11 a.m. with a number women's weight throw, men's long jump and the women's 200-meter dash.