DURHAM, N.C. — Natasha Akbarizadeh (Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada) and AJ White (Hurricane, W.Va.) both easily surpassed their previous personal records to set the tone for Gardner-Webb at the Duke Invitational on Friday afternoon.

Akbarizadeh continued her strong season with a monster throw in the hammer, besting her previous PR by more than 1.5 meters with a mark of 58.59 meters. Her throw was good for sixth in the final event standings, and was one of six marks to surpass the standing meet record of 57.61 meters. Volunteer assistant coach Krista Chauvin placed second in the event with a personal best of 62.26 meters, and was one of five participants to surpass the previous facility record of 59.26 meters on Friday.

White kept up the momentum in the men's hammer, finishing third with a personal best of 52.06 meters - more than two meters further than his PR entering the day. Amy Turlington (Hendersonville, N.C.) set a new PR in the 800-meter run with a mark of 2:27.80, while Josh Parks (Forest City, N.C.) established a personal-best in the men's event with a time of 1:55.91.

Ashleigh Cleveland (Raleigh, N.C.) put together a solid day, finishing 14th in the 100-meter hurdle prelims with a time of 16.07 seconds while placing 21st in the long jump with a mark of 5.02 meters. Amanda Hall (Moscow, Pa.) placed 18th in the 100-meter hurdle prelims with a time of 17.89 seconds, as Bobby Clark missed a PR in the 100-meter dash by two thousandths of a second with a mark of 12.17 seconds.

Benjamin Sayles (Shelby, N.C.) turned in Gardner-Webb's top finish in the men's long jump with a mark of 6.40 meters.

Gardner-Webb will wrap up the weekend with a full slate of events on Saturday with second and final day of the Duke Invitational in Durham, North Carolina.