ALLENDALE, Mich. – Senior Elizabeth Hampl and Freshman Brittany Thomas toppled schools records in the weight throw and 60-meter dash in the opening day of the Big Meet.
Hampl, breaking her own record for the second meet in a row, set a new personal best in the weight throw with a mark of 58 feet, 4.75 inches. She finished third overall.
Thomas shattered her personal best in the 60-meters and set the new SIUE record with a time of 7.60 seconds.
La'Derrick Ward won the long jump event, setting both the facility record and the Big Meet record with a jump of 24-10.
"All in all it was a productive day," said Head Coach Eileen McAllister. It was a good test and there were many personal records. There is still plenty of room to improve and we will get another chance tomorrow."
The Cougars started the day with personal bests in the 5,000 meter race, including another from Erin Kennedy, who ran the race in 18:22.22. Luke Padesky and Keith Meyer also significantly bettered their times, running the race in 14:54.46 and 14:48.43, respectively. Padesky's time moved him to No. 3 all-time on the SIUE record list until Meyer ran, taking his place.
Francesca Sikorski and Jessy Glaub ran their personal best in the 600 meters. Sikorski finished with a time of 1:40.78. Glaub finished his race in 1:23.63.
LaDonna Caston finished the day with a time of 8.40 in the 60-meter hurdles, just 0.1 shy of her school record. This time places her 39th in the NCAA. Caston will get another chance in day two of the meet to improve upon her time.
Caston and Thomas finished the day for the Cougars by recording personal bests in the 200 meter race. Thomas finished fourth with a time of 24.82. Caston finished just behind her at 25.06, finishing in ninth.
"How well they perform on day two will tell a lot," said McAllister. "It will show who took care of themselves today and who has the grit to push through."
The second day of the event continues Saturday at 10 a.m. CT.
