BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (1/11/20) – It may be a new decade, but the Arkansas State track and field team continued its strong start to the indoor season on Saturday at the Vulcan Invitational, held at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

Six athletes set new collegiate bests on Saturday, while three others posted seasonal-best marks in their events. The Red Wolves also totaled 19 top-five finishes on the day (14 top-three finishes), including four first-place results.

In what would be A-State's lone track events of the day, the Red Wolves' distance runners picked up right where they left off from their historic finish at the 2019 Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Championships.

The women's 5000m started with the Scarlet and Black going 1-2-3 as Sophie Leathers led the charge with a collegiate-best run of 17:46.49 to win move up to seventh all-time in program history in the event. Elizabeth Gillette clocked a personal-best 17:49.65 to place second and move up to the No. 8 spot all-time. Madison Grimm rounded out the Red Wolves with her third-place result in 18:56.17.

Fresh off USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Region honors, Bennett Pascoe started his track and field season in incredible fashion, shattering the school record in the 5000m with a time of 14:35.41. Ethan Mychajlonka also clocked a personal-best 15:00.23 in his third-place finish while John Carder earned a top-five finish in 15:32.33.

In the men's shot put, Eron Carter placed third overall, hurling a season-best 15.65m (51-4.25). Carter also placed third in the weight throw, tossing the implement 18.36m (60-3.0).

Callie Hicks and Lauren Beauchamp earned top-three finishes in the women's pole vault, both clearing 3.80m (12-5.5). Beauchamp's mark matched her collegiate best and was a seasonal best for the newcomer. Nada Buntic tied for seventh, clearing 3.50m (11-5.75).

Grace Flowers continued her strong start, posting a personal-best 18.90m (62-0.0) in the weight throw to win the event. Hannah Higgins placed fourth with a throw of 15.42m (50-7.0). Evangelynn Harris placed second in the shot put with a throw of 14.24m (46-8.75) while Flowers posted a third-place finish with a mark of 14.09m (46-2.75). Chastery Fuamatu placed ninth, throwing 12.68m (41-7.25).

A-State's high jumpers also performed well on Saturday, with Sydney Lane winning the women's event with a clearance of 1.70m (5-7.0) while Frank Massey placed third overall with a season-best 2.06m (6-9.0), just one centimeter shy of his collegiate best.

In the men's pole vault, A-State alum Michael Carr won with a clearance of 5.20m (17-0.75), while Matthew Keown placed fifth overall with a jump of 4.55m (14-11.0).

In the horizontal jumps, Allie Hensley posted a collegiate-best mark of 5.31m (17-5.25) in the long jump while Megan Knowling placed fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 10.98m (36-0.25). Hensley also cleared 1.60m (5-3.0) in the high jump.

The Red Wolves will be back in action in a pair of meets on Friday, Jan. 17. One group of athletes will head to Columbia, Mo., for the Mizzou Open while another contingent will trek to Birmingham for the Samford Invitational.

For the latest on the A-State track and field program, follow @AStateTrack on Twitter and @Arkansas_State_Track on Instagram, while also liking the team's Facebook page at Facebook.com/AStateTrackAndField.

WOMEN'S RESULTS (*denotes collegiate best; ^ denotes season best)

5000m: 1. Sophie Leathers, 17:46.49* (No. 7 all-time); 2. Elizabeth Gillette, 17:49.65*; 3. Madison Grimm, 18:56.17

High Jump: 1. Sydney Lane, 1.70m (5-7.0); T5. Megan Knowling, 1.60m (5-3.0); 7. Allie Hensley, 1.60m (5-3.0)

Pole Vault: Anna Massa (UAB), 3.95m (12-11.5)
A-State: 2. Callie Hicks, 3.80m (12-5.5); 3. Lauren Beauchamp, 3.80m (12-5.5)^; T7. Nada Buntic, 3.50m (11-5.75)

Long Jump: Monae' Nichols (Bethune-Cookman), 5.83m (19-1.5)
A-State: 8. Allie Hensley, 5.31m (17-5.25)*

Triple Jump: Christine McNeal (Bethune-Cookman), 11.72m (38-5.5)
A-State: 5. Megan Knowling, 10.98m (36-0.25)

Shot Put: Hannah White (Jackson State), 14.71m (48-3.25)
A-State: 2. Evangelynn Harris, 14.24m (46-8.75); 3. Grace Flowers, 14.09m (46-2.75); 9. Chastery Fuamatu, 12.68m (41-7.25)

Weight Throw: 1. Grace Flowers, 18.90m (62-0.0)* [No. 4 in school history]; 4. Hannah Higgins, 15.42m (50-7.0); Chastery Fuamatu, FOUL

MEN'S RESULTS (*denotes collegiate best; ^ denotes season best)

5000m: 1. Bennett Pascoe, 14:35.41* (school record); 3. Ethan Mychajlonka, 15:00.23*; 5. John Carder, 15:32.33

High Jump: David Smith II, 2.16m (7-1.0)
A-State: 3. Frank Massey, 2.06m (6-9.0)^

Pole Vault: Michael Carr, 5.20m (17-0.75)
A-State: 5. Matthew Keown, 4.55m (14-11.0)

Shot Put: Zach Hancock (Alabama-Huntsville), 17.49m (57-4.75)
A-State: 3. Eron Carter, 15.65m (51-4.25)^

Weight Throw: Michael Alvernaz (Troy), 20.49m (67-2.0)
A-State: 3. Eron Carter, 18.36m (60-3.0)