BOONE, N.C. --- Jordan Smith (Chesterfield, Va.) and Sarah Mitchell (Roswell, Ga.) each posted a personal record en route to a pair of top-five performances in the weight throw at the Appalachian Open Indoor Meet on Friday evening, as five of Gardner-Webb's six entrants established a new personal-best in their respective events.

Smith led the way with a mark of 18.39 meters in the men's weight throw, beating his previous personal record by almost a meter en route to a second-place finish. Freshman Marcus Abraham (Charlotte, N.C.) and sophomore Clay Hamilton (Blair, Neb.) posted personal-best marks of 13.67 and 13.12 meters, respectively.

Mitchell paced the Runnin' Bulldogs in the women's event, placing fourth with a throw of 17.01 meters – a new personal best by more than a quarter of a meter. Natasha Akbarizadeh (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) set a new personal-record with a throw of 15.65 meters to finish ninth, as Diamond Reese (Atlanta, Ga.) placed 11th with a mark of 15.17 meters.

Gardner-Webb will close out the first weekend of its indoor schedule on Saturday at the Appalachian Open Indoor in Boone, N.C.