Lynchburg, Va.  - The Senators opened their 2024 outdoor season competing this past Friday and Saturday at the University of Lynchburg hosted Dr. Jack M. Toms Alumni Invitational.

The meet produced many top MEC and Atlantic Region early season times, a school record, and ten Top-10 finishes in the twenty-six team invitational. 

Jackson Gibson finished 3^rd in the 800m breaking the school record running 1:53.95. Gibson's performance led a total of seven Senators under the 2-minute barrier. Gibson's time is currently 5^th in the region. Currently the Senators have six of the top eight ranked runners on the MEC Performance list.

Carter McKenna finished 2^nd overall in the Invite 1500m running 3:52.51, a time that is currently the fastest in the MEC and Atlantic Region. McKenna was followed closely behind by Jackson Gibson who finished 4^th in a time of 3:53.8, a time that is 3^rd in the MEC and 4^th in the Region. In total 5 Senators broke the 4-minute barrier.

The women's 800 and 1500 races also saw barriers broken. Seven women went under the 2:30 barrier and three women went under the 5:00 barrier. Lauren Twyman led the way in both running 2:22.82 in the 800 and 4:50.7 in the 1500. Also with an impressive double in the events was Ella Hesson who ran 2:23.9 and 4:51.80.

Also breaking 5-minutes in the 1500 was Savanna Hardman who ran 4:54.3. Also of note in the 800 was Cameryn Wheeler who ran 2:24.65.

Jan Thewes ran to a 9:19.72 opener in the 3000m Steeplechase to finished 2^nd overall. The time is currently the fastest in the MEC and second in the region. Henry Schmidt finished 4^th in the event (9:28) with a time that is second in the MEC and 3^rd in the region currently.

Ian Wood debuted in the 400 hurdles running to a top 10 finish (57.37) which is also another top 5 time in the MEC.

In total the meet produced twenty-four Top 10 MEC rankings and eight Top 10 Atlantic region rankings.

Next up for the Senators is a very select group who got accepted in the prestigious Raleigh Relays, one of the best meets in the country and arguably the best meet on the east coast. The Senators competing will race on Thursday March 28^th.

The full squad will be back in action in two weeks when traveling to the D1 hosted George Mason Invitational in Fairfax, Virginia on April 5^th-6^th.
Full Meet Results: https://tfrrs.org/results/82086/Dr_Jack_M_Toms_Alumni_Invitational