ULM Opens Indoor Season with Strong Showing at Arkansas Invitational

Courtesy: ULMAthletics.com http://ULMAthletics.com Destiny Montemayor set a new school record in the weight throw on Friday.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With two school records set anew, the ULM track and field team opened the 2008 indoor season in style at the Arkansas Invitational at the Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark. on Friday.  "We felt like we wanted to get an early start this year on our indoor season," ULM track and field head coach J.D. Malone said. "We found out that we had some people who worked really hard over the break. Overall we are very pleased with how we performed and will be able to take a lot from this last weekend." On the women's side, Destiny Montemayor bested the ULM indoor mark for the weight throw by more than a meter with her throw of 16.71. The mark by Montemayor bests the school record of 15.65 meters set by Lilia Rivera during the Southland Conference Championships in 2006. Heather Davis was also back in action on the women's side, posting a high jump of 1.68 meters to finish in a tie for second place. Mychal Word broke the ULM record in the indoor 400 meter run, posting a time of 48.03 to finish in fourth place overall. Word broke the old school record set last season.  "Mychal is a focused athlete and it is great to see him be so successful," Malone said. "He is part of the reason why our men's 400 relay will be one of our stronger groups this year. He came into the spring prepared and should only continue to improve from here." In addition to the familiar faces for ULM, the Arkansas Invitational also featured 11 newcomers to the track for the Warhawks Five freshmen saw their first action on the women's side and five freshmen and one junior college transfer saw action on the men's side.  Rani Giladi also returned to action for the Warhawks after sitting out the entire 2007 season with an injury. "Arkansas's facility is the best in the country," Malone said. "It was a great opportunity to open up the season there and we are looking to return in the near future. Any time you can break a pair of school records to start the season, you have to be happy with your performance." ULM returns to the track on Saturday, January 19 in Baton Rouge, La. when it takes on the field in the Purple Tiger Invitational.