JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Freshman Kelsey Arnold was reaching distances of 16 meters or more in Weight Throw practice this week, but had not hit that milestone in competition. Arnold changed that Friday afternoon with a 16.16m (53'0.25") distance at the Niswonger Invitational, good for third place all-time in Georgia Southern's record book in the event.

"We had a number of personal bests and some things went really well," said Head Track and Field Coach Marlo Mincey. "We still have a lot of work to do, but we're seeing consistent improvement. We're always happy when our Eagles are doing the best they have ever done."

On the first day of competition at one of the nation's largest indoor track & field meets, the Eagles made more strides with 16 efforts that rank as personal bests. In addition to Arnold's top-three performance in the Weight Throw, Sherril McFarlane was within hundredths of a second of breaking her own record in the 800m. McFarlane took first place in the event and was three seconds faster than her nearest competitor.

Thrower Ashley Thomas joined Arnold in the top 10 of the Weight Throw with her personal best, a distance of 15.18m. Three Eagles had personal bests in the Triple Jump including Ashleigh Rasheed, who improved upon her mark from last weekend by than 2'8". Dana Edwards had a top-20 finish and set her personal best in the 400m with a 59.67 time while newcomer Jordan Fordham posted the best time of the 2013-14 season in the 60m Dash. 

Of those setting personal bests, Camryn Coleman (Triple Jump, 200m); Rian Mobley-Luke (60m Hurdles, 400m Dash) and Taylor Johnson (400m Dash, Triple Jump) all improved their previous top efforts in two events.

Day two of the Niswonger Invitational at East Tennessee State's Dave E. Walker Track begins at 8 a.m. with the 5,000m Run, 3,000m Run and Mile Run.  For the full schedule of the day's events, check here. 

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 and twitter.com/GSAthletics, and its new "Eagles GATA" mobile app for Android and iOS. Fans can follow the Eagle Cross Country and Track & Field programs on twitter @GSAthletics_TF.