DMR GROUPS SHATTER SCHOOL RECORDS, GREEN EARNS ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS

RESULTS | TEAM STANDINGS

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Led by record-breaking performances from the men's and women's distance medley relay groups and Kaleice Green's all-conference showing in the women's long jump, Radford opened the Big South Indoor Track and Field Championships with a bang Thursday at the JDL Fast Track.

Following day one, both squads are tied for fourth in the team standings. The men have accumulated 18 points, while the women have 16.

With the distance medley relays being at the end of the schedule of events, the Highlanders had a chance to close the opening day on a high note. The DMR squads capitalized on this opportunity by setting two school records.

The women's race was up first as Radford sent Maggie Wissler, Danyelle McDaniel, Katie Hickey and Teresa Williamson to the track. Entering the championships as the fifth-ranked DMR group in the Big South, the Highlanders completed the 4,000 meters in a program-best 12:22.32 to place fourth in the event. Their effort shaved four seconds off the previous school record of 12:26.32 ran at the 2008 Big South Indoor Championships.

After the women's performance, the Radford men took the stage. David Green, Eric Graves, Chris Weeks and Brian Gorwitz put in a relay to remember as the Highlanders improved the men's DMR benchmark of 10:12.74 to 10:09.58. With that pace, RU recorded its first runner-up showing of the championships. The previous school record was set at last year's conference meet.

In addition to the men's DMR all-conference performance, K. Green put in a show of her own in the women's long jump. Entering with the fourth-best mark in the event among Big South competitors, K. Green splashed into the sand with a 5.41-meter leap to place third and earn all-conference honors for the first time in her career.

Returning to the track where he established his previous PR, Ryan Farnan shaved nearly nine seconds off that mark, which was ranked ninth in the Big South entering Thursday, by crossing the line in 8:33.67 to place fourth in the men's 3,000 meters.

Also having a big day was Joseph Betts, who qualified for two finals—the 60-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. Despite Betts' top time in the 60 meters being 14th in the Big South rankings, the sophomore finished eighth in the prelims with a 6.98 sprint to move on to the final.

Betts also advanced to the 200-meter final by way of his 22.06 effort in the prelims to take second. His qualifying time ranks 10th all-time at Radford for the event.

Lakei Crews qualified for the women's 60-meter dash final thanks to her sixth-place sprint of 7.75, which ranks ninth on the top-10 chart in school history. Kayla Christian also competed in the event, running a personal-best 7.87 to place ninth.

Joining Crews in an attempt to win a conference title is Courtni Pannell, who qualified for the women's 60-meter hurdles final after crossing the line in 8.82 to finish fifth in the prelims.

Perhaps the most anticipated final on Friday will be the men's 60-meter hurdles, which features two of the top-10 competitors in the nation for the event—Milan Ristic of UNC Asheville and Radford's Vincent Wyatt.

Ristic's top time in the event is 7.75, which ranks first in the Big South and is tied for eighth nationally. Right behind, however, is Wyatt's 7.76, which ranks second in the conference and 10th in the nation. Thursday's prelims justified the hype as Wyatt ran an 8.00 to place first, while Ristic was clocked at 8.13 to finish second.

Qualifying for the men's 400-meter final was Kaise White, who finished third by running a 49.73. Reigning Big South Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week Jake Zimmerman qualified for the 800-meter final with the sixth-fastest time of the prelims (1:57.71).

While the track events were going on around them, Jazmine Banks and Garrett Knudson were hard at work in the throwing area.

Entering the women's shot put with the ninth-best mark of the season, Banks was out to improve her standing. Mission accomplished. The sophomore placed fifth in the final with a 12.80-meter toss, which was a personal-best.

Also ranked ninth entering the championships was Knudson in the men's shot put. Like Banks, Knudson saved his best performance for last as the junior hurled a 15.38-meter mark to place fourth in the final.

The Highlanders return to the track Friday morning for the final day of the championships. Follow all the action, which gets underway at 10:00 a.m., with the live results link.

***Note: All times will be converted later on to banked-time for ranking purposes since facility is a flat track.

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