SALEM, Va. — WVU Tech track and field turned in another strong performance Saturday at the Joe LaRocco Invitational, highlighted by two school records, a hurdles title and multiple personal bests against a deep collegiate field.

Freshman Isaac Agee led the way with a dominant performance in the men's 60-meter hurdles, winning the event in 8.28. The mark broke his own school record and ranked No. 30 nationally in the NAIA at the time of the meet. Earlier in the day, Agee reset the WVU Tech school record in the 60-meter dash, running 7.22 in the semifinals after a 7.25 qualifying mark in prelims.

Agee also added a podium finish in the long jump, placing third with a leap of 6.74 meters (22-01.50), giving the Golden Bears two top-three finishes on the men's side.

In the hurdles, freshman Ralph Aaron Etaba Ateba advanced to the final with a personal-best 8.72 in prelims and placed fifth overall in 8.86. The sprint group continued to stack improvements, as Chucky Jordan ran a personal-best 7.55 in the 60 meters and Carlos Enrique Parra Soto posted a PR of 24.58 in the 200 meters.

The men's distance group delivered another steady outing in the longer events. Evan McElwayne and Jan Fasius Ponsa finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in the 5,000 meters with times of 16:11.65 and 16:12.68. Travis Anderson recorded a personal best of 5:27.27 in the mile, while Tommy Wikel led Tech in the 800 meters at 2:09.85.

On the women's side, every Golden Bear competitor contributed solid efforts across the sprints, middle distance and throws.

Senior Nevaeh Wooding opened the day in the 60 meters (9.17) and added a 31.24 performance in the 200 meters. Freshman Rebecca H. Lorincz paced Tech in the 400 meters with a 10th-place finish in 1:04.74 and also ran 28.51 in the 200 meters.

Freshman Jadyn Farmer posted a personal-best 1:07.83 in the 400 meters and added a 30.29 in the 200 meters. In the middle-distance events, sophomore Lexie Wikel recorded a personal-best 6:00.41 in the mile and ran 2:47.09 in the 800 meters, while Peyton Asbury competed in both the 800 meters (3:32.52) and the mile (7:17.91).

In the throws, sophomore Abigail Holley represented Tech in both events, recording 6.61 meters (21-08.25) in the shot put and a personal-best 6.95 meters (22-09.75) in the weight throw.

The Golden Bears also competed in the men's 4x400-meter relay, as Tommy Wikel, Etaba Ateba, Agee and Jordan combined for a 3:56.24 finish.

With two school records, a national-level hurdles performance and a collection of personal bests across the roster, WVU Tech continued to build momentum heading into the championship portion of the indoor season.

WHAT'S NEXT

WVU Tech returns to action February 20-21 at the River States Conference Indoor Championships in Marietta, Ohio.