WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — WVU Tech Track & Field opened the indoor season with a strong performance Saturday at the ASICS Get Your Marks Meet, earning three new school records, a school-record tie, multiple podium finishes and several college PRs.

The meet also marked the collegiate indoor debuts for a large portion of the Golden Bears' freshman class. Making their first appearances were Isaac Agee (60m hurdles, 200m), Ralph Aaron Etaba Ateba (60m hurdles, 200m), Tommy Wikel (800m), Eli Jordan (800m), Ethan Cavender (800m), Jan Fasius Ponsa (3000m), Owen Cameron (60m, 200m), Iain Furman (60m, 200m), Crutcher Hutchison (200m, long jump), Nikolas Rodriguez (200m), Brady Smith (shot put, weight throw), Jonathan Cantley (shot put, weight throw), Rebecca H. Lorincz (400m) and Jadyn Farmer (400m).

Agee opened his collegiate career in standout fashion, winning the men's 60-meter hurdles in 8.35 to break the WVU Tech school record. Etaba Ateba placed third in 8.81, then followed with a 23.88 in the 200 meters, tying the program's indoor record.

T. Wikel added another record-setting moment for WVU Tech, running 2:06.15 in the 800 meters to establish a new indoor school record.

Lorincz led the women with a fourth-place finish in the 400 meters, posting 1:02.88 to break the WVU Tech indoor school record in her debut. Farmer also competed in the event, running 1:08.35. Sophomore Lexie Wikel earned a podium finish with a third-place run in the 3000 meters in 12:11.14.

The men's distance squad delivered three college PRs in the mile. Senior Christian Saffouri placed second in 4:57.17, senior Samuel Whitcomb finished fourth in 5:00.84 and sophomore Chucky Jordan crossed sixth with a 5:05.84 PR. Cavender added a college-best 2:22.09 in the 800 meters.

Ponsa turned in a strong debut in the 3000 meters, placing fourth in 9:35.93.

In the throws, Smith impressed with a fifth-place mark of 12.12m (39-09.25) in the shot put and an eighth-place result of 11.89m (39-00.25) in the weight throw. Junior Matthew Rhodes recorded a college PR in the shot put, throwing 10.43m (34-02.75), and added a 10.64m (34-11.00) effort in the weight throw. Cantley posted marks of 10.98m (36-00.25) in the shot put and 8.90m (29-02.50) in the weight throw.

Sophomore Abigail Holley capped the day with a college PR in the women's weight throw, recording 6.62m (21-08.75) after also competing in the shot put with a mark of 7.09m (23-03.25).

It was a promising season opener for a young WVU Tech squad building momentum across all event groups.

WHAT'S NEXT

WVU Tech returns to competition on Saturday, December 6, traveling to Huntington for the Marshall Opener.