Students, parents and community members gathered at the Track and Field complex to witness the track and field members compete at what they do best.

Although twelve other colleges participated in Friday's invitational, Southeastern managed to grasp twelve first place finishes.

In the women's performances, three Lady Lions placed in their event. With a time of 11.99 seconds, freshman Kaelynn Smith placed first in the 100-meter dash. In the women's 400-meter dash, sophomore Dominique White placed first at a time of 55.49 seconds. And junior Bernadette Derosier won the triple jump event with a mark of thirty-eight feet, 10.53 inches.

Head Coach Sean Brady expressed his opinion on how the men and women competed on Friday.

"Both for men and women collectively had a great meet," said Brady. "It turned out to be a beautiful day and performances reflected the great weather, environment and competition."

As for the men, nine Lions placed first in their events. Tossing a mark of 203 feet, ten inches with the javelin senior Derek Hampton earned the top position. In the men's shot put event, senior Jeffrey Milliron tossed fifty-six feet, 6.5 inches.

For the men's triple jump, freshman Julian Maze placed first with a distance of forty-six feet, 7.05 inches. And sophomore Clarence Robinson placed first in high jump (6-6.75).

In hurdling, senior Abram Taylor managed first place in the men's 400-meter hurdles (53.61), while sophomore Emanuel Kennedy, freshman Alex Holden, freshman Dwayne Woodard and junior Billy Minnifield combined with a time of 3:15.90 in the 4×400-meter relay.

In men's distance events, two Lions placed first positions. Holden won the 800-meter run (1:53.37) while sophomore Harry Wiggins claimed first in the 3000-meter run (9:07.88).

"This is the time of the outdoor season when you expect to see personal best and season best being set, and we did," said Brady. "Our teams accomplished almost all the goals set forth for this competition."

In the 200-meter dash for the men, four top spots were claimed by senior T.J. Herbert (21.22), freshman Brian Verdin (21.56), Kennedy (21.79) and Minnifield (21.94).

Sophomore Misha Frazier placed in the top five of three events. Frazier placed second in both the shot put (46-02.000), hammer throwing (177-07) and javelin throwing (114-01).

As for the women, second place titles were claimed by senior Alicia Noel (400-meter hurdles, 1:04.47), junior Ikea Kaufman (women's high jump, 5-07.00) and sophomore Sharon Ann Ourso (pole vault, 12-11.75).

In the 4×400-meter relay, freshman Bayliegh Butler, White, freshman Vanessa Williams and Noel all combined for the second place time of 3:51.91.

Three Lady Lions placed fourth in their events. In pole vaulting, freshman Whitney Adams posted a mark of twelve feet, six inches. In the hurdles event, junior Charlyn Miller completed the 100-meter hurdles in 14.12 seconds and Williams posted a time of 57.70 in the women's 400-meter dash.

As for the men, six second-place titles were earned. The titles included senior Brandon Daniels (100-meter dash, 10.46), Wiggins (1500-meter run, 3:58.82), senior Kevin Dorhauer (pole vault, 15-3.07), Taylor (110-meter hurdles, 14.36), sophomore Christian Chapman (400-meter hurdles, 54.94) and Daniels (long jump 24-19.00).

In both the 100-meter dash (10.64) and long jump (23-3.53), Kennedy placed third as well as sophomore Kadarius Williams in the long jump (6-04.75).

In the hammer throw junior Brett Olsen (197-06.00), Milliron (192-08.00), sophomore Jonathan Kinchen (185-05.00) and sophomore Jimmy LeBlanc (183-07.00) earned third, fourth, fifth and sixth place titles.

In the men discus throwing, Olsen (168-09) and Milliron (167-06) earned third and fifth place titles.

For the 3000-meter run, senior Joseph LeGrange managed a fourth place title with a time of 9:22.82. Freshman Dantrayl Sanders (triple jump, 13.40 meters) and Chapman (110-meter hurdles, 14.86) both placed fifth in their events.

Brady commented on how well the track and field team performed at home.

"We competed well in front of our home crowd and fans," said Brady.

Southeastern Track and Field will be competing in the J. Fred Duckett Twilight which is taking place in Houston, Texas on April 26. More information regarding the track and field team can be found at lionsports.net.