MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Junior hurdler Adlus Wiltz proved he's ready to lead the Lions' middle-distance groups and senior sprinter George Cunningham showed he's in mid-season form as the duo set a pair of school records to highlight a bevy of notable performances by the Southeastern Louisiana University men's and women's track teams on Saturday. In addition to Wiltz's new 800 m record and Cunningham's 400 m mark, the Lions and Lady Lions combined to set 24 personal records at the Middle Tennessee Valentines Invitational in the squads' final tune-up before the 2009 Southland Conference Indoor Championships.
"This was a great day for us," head coach Sean Brady said. "We were able to set a few personal and school records, we got to fine-tune some things we wanted to work on, and everyone got out healthy for next weekend's conference meet."
Wiltz, who continues to make the transition from hurdles and relays to middle distance events, set the tone for the Lions with a blistering 800 m time of 1:53.18 to claim second and set a new Southeastern record by bettering the old mark of 1:53.98.
Cunningham followed later in the day with a 400 m time of 49.21, beating the previous school record of 49.50 set by Wiltz last year.
Highlighting the day for the Lady Lions were a pair of near school records from freshman jumper Michelle Ogashi in the triple jump and senior distance runner Kim Gastinell in the 800 m.
Ogashi recorded a personal best mark of 38 ft. 7.5 in. (11.77 m) in the triple jump, falling short of the school record by just 0.22 m. Meanwhile, Gastinell fell just 0.83 seconds shy of a new school record in the 800 m with a career best mark of 2:21.05.
"Adlus and George really ran well, and Kim and Michelle really came through for us," Brady said. "And we had lots of other people step up and do what we needed them to do. The most important thing is that we all came out healthy and ready for the conference meet, but when you set 24 personal records and break a pair of school records, it makes a long drive back that much more enjoyable and really helps boost your confidence and get you in the right mindset for the conference meet."
The Lions and Lady Lions will now get set for the 2009 SLC Indoor Championships Feb. 20-21 in Houston, Texas. The Lions will look to improve on a fourht place 2008 finish with the Lady Lions looking to take a step forward from an eighth place finish last season.