ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Madonna University Men's and Women's Track and Field team has wrapped up the first competition of the outdoor season with day two of the Winthrop/Adidas Invitational Saturday on the campus of Winthrop University (S.C.). 

On Friday night, junior Emilee Kessler stamped a new school record in the women's hammer throw with a toss of 48.53m (159'3") for a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics B Standard. 

In the field on Saturday, freshman Sarah Mitchell eclipsed a new school record in the women's discus with a 32.33m (106'1") heave. Senior Mikaela Hille finished second in the women's triple jump with a leap of 10.87m (35'8"). Junior Ja'Kelveon Jackson also finished in the top three of the men's long jump, finishing third in 6.75m (22'1.75"). 

On the track, Cortez Cunningham finished fourth in the men's 100m dash with a blazing time of 10.88 seconds while fellow teammate junior Steven Anderson won the men's 400m hurdles in 53.20 seconds. The women's 4x400m relay team of freshman Nia Wood, Hille, junior Kamry Brown, and junior Alysa Coleman rounded out notable finishes in sixth with a time of 4:05.73. 

Athletes competed against other NAIA schools along with Division I programs such as Marshall University (W.V.), Western Michigan, Radford University (Va.), Winthrop, and Gardner-Webb University (N.C.). The team also bested a stout Division II field of Wingate University (N.C.) and Ashland University (Ohio). 

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

• Kessler with a school record and NAIA B Standard in the women's hammer throw in 48.53m (159'3")
• Hille second in the women's triple jump, 10.87m (35'8")
• Jackson third in the men's long jump with a leap of 6.75m (22'1.75")
• Cunningham fourth in the men's 100m with a time of 10.88 seconds
• Anderson wins the men's 400m hurdles in 53.20 seconds. 
• Women's 4x400m relay team in sixth in 4:05.73

PERSONAL BESTS

• Kessler outdoor PR in the shot put, 10.80m (35'5.25")

UP NEXT

Both squads will head down to Bowling Green, Kentucky for the WKU Invitational on Saturday, April 3. 

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