JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - The Anderson men's and women's track and field teams competed against some of the region's best teams on the first day of the 36th Annual Niswonger Invitational, hosted by East Tennessee State on Friday inside the ETSU/MSHA Athletics Center at the David E. Walker Track and Gentry Field.

More than 25 schools from throughout the region are competing in the two-day meet. In addition to Anderson, UNC Asheville, Wofford, USC Upstate, Alabama State, Appalachian State, Western Carolina, Tennessee Tech, Milligan and Tusculum are in Johnson City.

Competition began Friday morning with the women's 60 meter hurdle prelims and the women's weight throw finals. Sprints, distance and jumps events continued throughout the day with action ending with the men's 5,000 meter run gold section.

Freshman Sherin Malone placed 12th in the 60 meter hurdle preliminaries with a time of 9.39 and posted a 69th-place finish in the 200 meter dash prelims.

Junior Savanna Keese finished 12th in the finals of the weight throw with a season-best distance of 15.46 meters, while junior Brooklyn Watt (13.87 meters) placed 20th and sophomore D'Yandra Morris placed 25th with a toss of 12.59 meters.

Watt placed 13th in the shot put with a season-best distance of 12.10 meters, while Morris was just behind in 14th with a toss of 11.81 meters.

Junior Jill Baxter notched 18th in the finals of the high jump with a height of 1.53 meters.

On the men's side, Malik Brown crossed the line in 32nd in the 60 meter hurdle preliminaries in a time of 9.85, while freshman Jonathan Shorter was 34th in a time of 9.91. Freshman Caleb Knight (54.82) placed 51st in the 400 meter dash prelims, while classmate Eric Hoover notched 68th in the prelims of the 60 meter dash in a time of 7.81 and finished 23rd in the finals of the triple jump.

Competition will pick back up on Saturday morning with the women's 5,000 meter run blue section final slated to begin at 8 a.m. Field events as well as distance and sprints competition will carry on over the course of the day with women's and men's 4x400 meter relay finals wrapping things up at 6:30 p.m.