Lindenwood men's and women's track and field teams started the new year at the Gene Edmonds Invite hosted by Purdue University, in West Lafayette, Ind on Friday and Saturday. Team scores were not kept for the event, but several Lions earned top eight finishes against several NCAA Division I and II schools.

The highlight of the day was junior Samuel Yaro who won the 400 meter race. Yaro won his heat with a NCAA provisional time of 49.2 seconds which proved to be the fastest of the day, beating runners from Purdue, Butler, Southeast Missouri State, and Maryville.  Coming in fourth in the same heat was sophomore Damaine Dixon who finished 5^th overall with a time of 50.94 seconds.

Other notable finishers include:

Men's Team

• Austin Blakeslee – 2^nd place in Pole Vault (4.65 meters - personal best, 10th in Lindenwood history)
• Damaine Dixon – 3^rd place in 200 meters (22.78 seconds - season best)
• Austin Crowe – 2^nd place in 3000 meters (8:42.10 - season best)
• Ben Stasney – 5^th place in 3000 meters (8:52.79 - season best)
• Logan Kulinski – 4^th place in Weight Throw (17.15 meters - personal best, 6th in Lindenwood history)

Women's Team

• Nicole Barton – 7^th place in Pole Vault (3.6 meters – NCAA Provisional)
• Rachael Morrison – 5^th place in Mile (5:11.34)
• Emily Montgomery - 10th place in Weight Throw (14.87 meters)

The Lions will return to the track on Friday, January 24 to compete at the UCM Invitational in Warrensburg, Mo.