Lexington, Va. - The Highlanders opened up their indoor track and field season at the annual VMI Invitational Saturday morning at the "Pit" in Cormack Field House. The Highs claimed six victories and set three school records on the day. The women notched four of the victories and the men two.

Sophomore thrower Tiffany Evans (Dumfries, Va.) started the season strong as she claimed a victory in the weight throw setting a new school record of 61-02.00. She held the previous record at a distance of 57-05.00.

Other first place finishes were taken by Kaelin Mejia (Dumfries, Va.) in the triple jump and Rachelle Estes (Yorktown, Va.) in the 3000 meter run. Mejia's distance of 35-06.50 marked a new school record for the Highlanders. Estes was clocked at 12:07.26 in her respective event while teammate Daphne Prospt (Crimora, Va.) finished close behind her with a time of 12:07.46. Mejia also took fifth in the 55 meter hurdles (9:15). Placing third in the 55 meter hurdles was freshman Ashlee Edwards (Cheasapeake, Va.) with a time of 8.77.

Senior leader Maurika Quarles (Manassas, Va.) landed one of those victories in the 500 meter dash clocking a time of 1:18.65. Finishing in the top-five of the event with Quarles were Kwadena Caple (Richmond, Va.) at third (1:22.00) and Lauren Diggs (Waynesboro, Va.) at fifth (1:24.08). Diggs also finished fourth in the triple jump (33-04.00).

Also running strong for the Highs was Shannon Brown (Oakwood, Va.). In the 1000 meter run she finished second with a time of 3:26.00. Rounding out the event were teammates Jasselle Cruz (Vineland, N.J.) her placed fifth and Liz Banks (Holden, Mass.) sixth.

Sophomore, Ashley Camden (Corunna, Ontario, Canada) took second as she tossed the shot a distance of 44-06.00. Teammate Amy Marshall (Egg Harbor Township, N.J.) notched third behind Camden with a distance of 39-11.00.

On the men's side Brian Richotte (Berkley, Mich.) and Jarrell Warthen (Richmond, Va.) each finished first in the weight throw and the 500 meter dash respectively. Richotte recorded a new school record with his throw of 62-01.00. Warthen was clocked at 1:05.95 in his event.

In the 3000 meter run Michael Meehan (Orange, Va.), Sean Bossman (Yorktown, Va.) and David Worrell (Radford, Va.) claimed second (9:14.09), third (9:36.68) and fourth (9:37.13) respectively.

Joel Hanlon and Daniel Oseth (Sterling, Va.) both finished second in the one mile and the high jump respectively. Hanlon crossed the finish line at 4:38.52 while Oseth jumped a height of 6-07.00. Oseth also had a fourth place finish in the long jump with a distance of 22-04.50. Ross Bolden (Charlottesville, Va.) finished third in the event with a mark of 22-06.50.

Other top-five finishes for the Highs include Antoine Woods (Woodbridge, Va.) with fifth in the 55 meter hurdles (8:19), James Nixon (Prince George, Va.) with fourth in the shot put with a distance of 47-02.00 and Quentin Preston (Martinsville, Va.) fourth (6.57) in the 55 meter dash.

The Highlanders will be back on the track Dec. 10 when they head to Lynchburg, Va. for the Lynchburg Invitational.