BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Sherrill McFarlane posted the second-best time in Georgia Southern history with a 5:10.13 time in the Mile event at the BSC Icebreaker at the Birmingham Crossplex. The Eagle Track & Field team opened the 2013-14 indoor season Friday with solid first performances that will set the tone for the end of this semester's training and the beginning of the season.

McFarlane, a graduate student who capped the 2013 Cross Country season with the Eagles' best performance of the year at the 5,000m conference championship race, started her indoor season with one of the best marks in her career in the Mile.

For the opening meet, there were some fast times from individuals and from Georgia Southern's 4X400m Relay team that took fourth place with a 3:53.03 time. A new combination with freshman Asha Stegall, McFarlane, Kimberly Thomas and Dana Edwards shaved four and a half seconds off last year's best indoor time.

"We saw a lot of great times and personal records," said Georgia Southern Coach Marlo Mincey. "We definitely have some things to work on before we start competing again in January. There were a lot of first-time races for individuals and first experiences and we were happy to get that under our belt."

Junior Lauren Toomer posted a personal best in the 60m Hurdles with a 9.05, just hundredths of a second removed from qualifying for finals. She also ran an off event in the 200m Dash with another personal best in that event. Alyssa Felton competed in her first 60m Hurdles event in the first section of that event with Toomer.

Stegall, who ran the lead leg of the 4X400m Relay, finished third among collegians and fifth overall in the individual 400m Dash. Redshirt freshman Sadia Yasenah and junior Kimberly Thomas placed in the top 12 in the event.
In her first career collegiate throw, freshman Kelsey Arnold posted a distance of 14.43 (47-4.25) in the Weight Throw which would have ranked as the top mark in 2012-13. Arnold and Ashley Thomas both experienced their best shot put marks in their third throws for top-20 placement.

Senior Cherrelle King returned to competition after missing the 2013 outdoor season with her first collegiate 800m race and was just .15 seconds off the Eagles' best time of the 2012-13 indoor season.

Sprinters Aarian Tipton, Jordan Fordman and Camryn Coleman competed against competition from the Southeastern Conference and Conference USA in the 60m Dash with Tipton registering a personal record. Dana Edwards had was within striking distance of her personal best in the 60m Hurdles and ran in her first 200m Dash. Deanna Edwards joined Toomer and sister Dana for her first indoor 200m race.

Ashleigh Rasheed added three plus inches to her personal best in the high jump with a 1.55m height (5-1) and also posted a personal best in the Long Jump. Coleman surpassed the five-meter mark in the Long Jump with a 5.09 for her top performance.

The Eagles break for final exams next week and then continue the indoor season at the UAB Blazer Invite January 10-11th for their second of three visits to the Birmingham Crossplex.

Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics andtwitter.com/GSAthletics, and its "Eagles GATA" mobile app. Fans can follow the Eagle Cross Country and Track & Field programs on twitter @GSAthletics_TF.