MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Anderson University men's and women's track and field teams opened their respective outdoor seasons by posting 12 top-10 finishes on the first day of competition at the Coastal Carolina Invitational on Friday at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium.

Competing unattached, former Trojan standout and current assistant coach Whitney Bishoff won the 5000 meter run in a time of 18:24.80, which was nearly 10 seconds faster than her closest competitor from Coastal Carolina. Sophomore Olivia Gardner claimed seventh in the event with a time of 18:58.89.

The combination of freshmen Alex Dixon and Taylor Morris, alongside sophomore Bari Robinson and senior Sydney Hazel, captured sixth in the 4x800 meter relay in a time of 9:52.82, with freshman Ali Caldwell (1:18.16) claiming the seventh spot in the 400 meter hurdles, while also placing 15th in the 100 meter hurdles in a time of 18.13.

Junior Lauren Averitt brought home 10th in the 100 meter dash in a time of 13.82, while redshirt junior Brooklyn Watkins claimed 15th in the women's javelin throw with a toss of 34.72 meters. Junior D'Yandra Morris took home 20th place in the women's hammer throw with a toss of 34.54 meters and senior Jill Baxter captured 22nd in the 400 meter dash with a time of 1:12.24.

Sophomores Grace Gerlock (40:44.38) and Mia Swiersz (40:46.26) captured fourth and fifth respectively in the 10,000 meter run.

On the men's side, freshman Mason Hazel earned fourth place in the 5000 meter run, crossing the line in a time of 15:08.48, with Michael Burch (17:09.49) claiming 38th. Sophomore Jonathan Shorter finished fifth in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 59.67 and crossed the line in a time of 17.51 in the 100 meter hurdles to capture 10th place.

Sophomore Ned Kennedy crossed the line in a time of 34:11.43 to garner sixth place in the 10,000 meter run.

Sophomore Jesse Patrick claimed ninth in the men's 1500 meter run with a time of 4:24.76, while freshman Joseph Siegwald (5.80 meters) and sophomore Eric Hoover (5.76 meters) finished 12th and 14th, respectively in the men's long jump, with Hoover also taking 31st in the javelin throw with a distance of 38.01 meters.

Siegwald, along with fellow freshmen Caleb Stephenson, Christopher Burton and T.J. Robinson combined to bring home fifth place in the men's 4x200 meter relay in a time of 1:31.36.

The invitational concludes on Saturday, with the men's discus slated for 9 a.m. and the women's 3000 meter scheduled for 9:30 a.m.