COMPLETE RESULTS

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University track and field team opened its indoor season this weekend at the talent-laden University of Kentucky Invitational. Freshman Bianca Forbes, in her first ever collegiate meet, highlighted the weekend for EKU by running the fifth fastest women’s indoor 400 meters time in school history.

Forbes won her heat in the 400 meters by running a 56.58. On top of putting her on the school’s top-five list, the performance also places the Toronto native atop the OVC best list.

Sophomore Lutisha Bowen also delivered an excellent performance for the Colonels as she qualified for the finals of the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.75. Although she false started in the finals, her qualifying time is still the second fastest in the conference so far this year.

Other notable performances for the EKU women over the weekend included junior Katherine Pagano’s 10:12.77 in the 3,000 meters (second on the OVC best list) and junior Lydia Kosgei’s 5:12.48 in the mile (also second on the OVC best list).

For the men’s team, junior Kris Hawkins won his heat in the 400 meters with a time of 49.76, placing him second in the OVC behind EIU’s Marcus Williams.

Junior David Willis also ran well in the mile, recording a time of 4:20.50 and, in doing so, moving into third in the OVC so far this season.

The meet featured a loaded field including the likes of Kentucky, Louisville, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Miami (Fla.), Tennessee and Western Kentucky.

The EKU track and field team will return to action from Jan. 29-30 when they head back to Lexington for the University of Kentucky Rod McCravy Invitational. Several EKU runners who did not compete this weekend are expected to make their debuts then.