CHARLOTTE, N.C. – One new school record was set, while 24 new personal records were set as the Gardner-Webb men's and women's outdoor track and field teams competed throughout the weekend at the 2018 Charlotte Invitational, hosted by UNC Charlotte at the Irwin Belk Track and Field Center.
 
Jordan Smith placed first in the men's shot put with a career best distance of 17.22 meters.  That set a new school record, besting the mark of 17.18 meters set by Alex Young in 2013 and is also the fifth-best mark in Big South Conference history.  Ross Lucia also set a new PR in the event with a distance of 14.06 meters to place seventh overall.
 
Smith took home the men's hammer throw title as well with a new personal-best tow of 54.82 meters, the sixth-best mark in school history.  Kenny VanVorst finished with a mark of 34.10 meters in his first time competing in the event.
 
Smith also placed second in the men's discus throw with a personal-best distance of 50.22 meters, which ranks second in GWU history.  Lucia set a new PR with a mark of 40.29 meters, followed by VanVorst with a new career best throw of 39.74 meters.
 
Gabby Cortese set a new PR in the women's 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:59.31 to finish in fourth place, which was also the ninth-best time in the event in GWU history.  Jenika Hrushka placed eighth with a career-best time of 5:05.88.  Sydney Davis timed in at 5:29.45, while Logan McGuirt had a career-best time of 5:40.17.
 
A pair of new personal-bests were set in the women's pole vault, as Karin Sastre placed fifth with a mark of 3.65 meters, which is tied for sixth all-time in GWU history, followed by Sarah Coleman at 3.50 meters, the ninth-best mark in program history.
 
In the women's shot put, Cailen Blaire finished with a mark of 11.12 meters, while Amanda Hall set a new PR with a distance of 10.29 meters, followed by Taylor Hotchkiss with a career-best mark of 8.78 meters.
 
Blaire set a new PR in the women's discus throw with a toss of 37.99 meters, ranking eighth all-time in program history.  Sarah Mitchell placed seventh in the event with a mark of 41.71 meters.
 
She also had a new PR in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 49.49 meters, ranking seventh in the GWU record books, placing eighth.  Petra Jakeljic finished in second overall with a mark of 57.21 meters.  Mitchell had a distance of 46.49 meters.
 
Chase Thornhill earned a fifth place finish in the men's 200-meter dash, clocking in at 21.44 seconds in his first time in the event.  It was also the second-fastest time in the event in school history.  Austin Billiot and Ralph Jolly each set new PRs in the event, clocking in at 23.67 seconds and 23.78 seconds respectively.
 
In the men's 800-meter run, Patrick Sastre finished in seventh with a career-best time of 1:56.96.   Josh Parks timed in at 2:02.59, followed by Sam Hermanns with a PR of 2:10.98 and Keaton Poole at 2:15.81.
 
Mason Marshall set a new PR in the men's 100-meter dash, crossing the line with a time of 11.13 seconds.  Austin Evans clocked in at 11.58 meters, followed by Chris Tobin with a career-best time of 11.67 seconds.
 
Diviana Forrest set a new personal record in the women's 400-meter dash, timing in at 1:01.01.  Kelsey Howard finished with a time of 1:06.51.
 
Carlos Williams finished the men's 400-meter dash with a new PR of 50.05 seconds.
 
Austin Evans set a new PR in the men's 110-meter hurdles, clocking in at 16.05 seconds.  Ralph Jolly and Roman Eddleman followed at 16.74 seconds and 18.65 seconds respectively,
 
In the women's 200-meter dash, Kira Ramsey clocked in at 27.42 seconds, followed by Maya Mallory at 28.02 seconds.
 
In the men's 1,500-meter run, Mitchell Brown timed in at 4:17.20, followed by Ezekiel Martin at 4:19.89 and Bogdan Podgaisky at 4:55.32.
 
Martin also completed the men's 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.74 seconds in his first time in the event.
 
Ashleigh Cleveland finished the women's 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.08 seconds.  She also completed the women's long jump with a mark of 4.72 meters and the women's javelin throw at 24.67 meters.
 
Taylor Hotckiss finished the javelin with a mark of 21.41 meters.
 
Hannah Jones finished the women's' 800-meter run with a time of 2:25.40, while Valerie Walker clocked in at 2:54.15.
 
In the men's 4x400 meter relay, the team of Patrick Sastre, Chase Thornhill, Josh Parks, and Carlos Williams placed fifth with a time of 3:21.99.  The team of Ezekiel Martin, Sam Hermanns, Keaton Poole, and Bogdan Podgaisky timed in at 3:50.63.
 
The women's 4x100 meter relay team of Kira Ramsey, Hannah Sparacio, Maya Mallory, and Diviana Forrest finshed with a time of 49.17 seconds.
 
The men's 4x100 meter relay team of Chris Tobin, Roman Eddleman, Ralph Jolly, and Caleby Silvey timed in at 44.97 seconds.
 
In the women's 4x400 meter relay, the grouping of Hannah Jones, Diviana Forrest, Kelsey Houser and Jenika Hrushka clocked in at 4:14.29.
 
Gardner-Webb returns to action on Friday, April 20, taking part in the two-day Duke Invite in Durham, N.C.