RICHMOND, Ky. – Two school records fell on the final weekend of the regular season for the Eastern Kentucky University track and field team.
 
Freshman Kayla Smith started the weekend off right by running 11.53 in the women's 100-meter finals at the UNF Invitational on Friday in Jacksonville, Florida. That time broke EKU's 38-year-old record in the event, held by Rose Gilmore since 1983. It is currently the fastest time in the Ohio Valley Conference this season.
 
Earlier in the day on Friday, Smith teamed up with sophomore Quantasia Perry and freshmen Emily Roesser and Christian "Joy" Scott to run 45.69 in the 4x100 meter relay. That is the third-fastest time in EKU history and the fastest since 1993. It currently ranks No. 2 in the OVC.
 
On Saturday night, another strong EKU record went crashing down. Junior Ahmed Jaziri outkicked the field on the bell lap to win the men's Olympic steeplechase race at the Trials of Miles qualifier in Kansas City. His winning time of 8:32.9 edged Olympian Ole Hesselbjerg's previous school record of 8:33.2 and is currently the fastest time in the NCAA this season.
 
Several Colonels competed at the Kentucky Invitational in Lexington over the weekend. Sophomore Bryce Favors-Charleston ran a new personal-best of 10.83 in the men's 100 meters (No. 9 in the OVC). Freshmen Katy Chapman (2:17.2) and Abbie Schoenherr (2:18.3) both clocked PBs in the women's 800 meters. Junior Jackson Siddall ran a personal-best and OVC top-five time of 3:49.8 in the men's 1,500 meters. Junior Saskia Pingpank, meanwhile, took home a new PB of 4:39.4 in the women's 1,500 meters.
 
In the field events, senior Branden Brookfield achieved a new personal-best mark of 15-6.25 in the men's pole vault, moving him to No. 4 in the OVC. Junior Cassi Reed went 5-4.5 in the high jump, rising to No. 7 in the conference. Junior Samuel Carter posted a personal-best mark of 47-5 in the men's triple jump, improving to No. 6 in the OVC.
 
The track and field Colonels have next weekend off before competing at the OVC Championships May 13-15 in Charleston, Illinois.