This past weekend, senior Anna Shields of the women’s track and field team set a facility record while winning the 1,500 meter event and posted the fourth best time in all of collegiate track this year.

Competing at the Bucknell Bison Outdoor Classic, Shields went head-to-head against a number of NCAA Division I athletes, and still managed to put up her record-breaking time of 4 minutes, 15.60 seconds.

Shields was trailing at the halfway point of the race, but managed to make a break for the lead and didn’t look back from there. With the win, the senior qualified in the event at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national championship meet later this season. She was victorious in the 1,500 at the past two NAIA championship meets.

Freshman Alyssa Campbell also competed in Bucknell and posted a personal best time in the 5,000 meters event. Campbell finished with a time of 17 minutes, 43 seconds and qualified at the ‘B’ standard for the NAIA championship meet.

With the team splitting up this weekend, another group of runners competed at the Westminster Invitational, which included freshman Nia Goodman picking up two top-10 finishes.

Her top finish of the day was finishing fifth in the 200 meters in 27.36 seconds. Following that race, she competed in the 100-meter hurdles finishing in eighth in 17.211 seconds.

On the field, junior Mackenzie Mangum placed ninth in javelin with a toss of 32.19 meters.

On the men’s side, junior Xavier Stephens picked up his second NAIA nationals qualification while competing in the 1,500 meter event. Stephens competed at Bucknell an set a school record with a time of 3 minutes, 54.13 seconds. Earlier this season, Stephens qualified in the 800 meter event.

Also at Bucknell for the men’s team was freshman Daniel Jacobs throwing javelin. While competing amongst a number of NCAA Division I athletes, Jacobs placed ninth with a 57.42 meter throw.

On day two of the Bucknell meet, the men’s team notched three top-10 finishes.

The 4×800 relay team  highlighted the day placing fourth and setting a school record. The team of freshmen Doug Kostelansky and Jared Thompson. senior Andre Bennett and Stephens earned the placement in 7 minutes, 58.48 seconds.

The team was just short of qualifying for the NAIA championship meet, but their finish is currently ranked eighth best in the NAIA.

Junior Chance Callahan took second place in the long jump on day two with a jump of 6.94 meters. Michael Morris competed alongside him and ended the day with a sixth place finish.

This week, the team will split up again and compete separately. Wednesday a select group will travel to Beaver Falls for the Geneva Invitational. The following day, another group will be in action at the Slippery Rock University Open. The following week, the team will compete in the River States Conference Championship meet.