Jones Sets New School Record in 5K Win at Hilton Invitational

 HOUSTON, Texas - A 40-day layoff from competition did not hurt senior distance runner Lauren Jones as the Centerville, Iowa native cruised to victory in school record fashion to lead a successful day at the Leonard Hilton Invitational at the University of Houston on Friday.

Jones bettered her own school record by nearly a half minute on Friday afternoon.  Jones clocked in at 17:57.10, 28.52 seconds better than her previous school record of 18:25.62 which she set at the 2010 Southland Conference Championships at the University of Oklahoma.  Jones won the event handily, as Rice's Johanna Ohm claimed a distant second place.  Jones had a 16.18 second cushion on Ohm, who clocked in at 18:13.28.

Junior sprinter Samantha Calhoun also turned in an impressive day.  In a field that was deep on sprinters, the Colonels' top power runner clocked in with a time of 25.68 in the finals of the 200 m dash, fifth place performance in the 200 m dash.  Calhoun also had a strong showing in a crowded 60 m field.  The Morgan City native clinched a spot in the finals with a 7.67 showing in the prelims of the 60, then clocked in with a 7.63 in the finals.  Calhoun's showing in the 60 m was just 0:00.03 away from a top eight finish.