RICHMOND, Ky. - The outdoor schedule got started in record-breaking fashion for the Eastern Kentucky University track & field teams as they opened the season with a home meet at the EKU Spring Meet.

Headlining the meet for the Colonels was JJ Love in the men's hammer throw. The sophomore posted a throw of 52.79m (173'-2.0") in the event, breaking the previous record by almost thirty feet. The previous record in the event was set in 2021 by Brandon Hinojosa and measured at 145'-1.0"

Elsewhere in the field events, Lariah Wooden picked up where she left off the indoor season in the women's shot put, adding another first place finish to her name. Wooden recorded a throw of 14.01m (45'-11.75"), securing first place by over four feet.

The Colonels also secured first place finishes in the men's long and triple jumps, courtesy of Baker Green and Javon Adams, respectively. Green posted a jump of 6.78m (22'-3.00") in the long jump while Adams had a 13.81m (45'-3.75") in the triple jump.

More first place finishes came on the track for the Colonels, starting with Mallory Hodge in the women's 100m. The junior clocked a time of 12.03 to take the top step of the podium as the only Colonel in the event.

Hodge also claimed first place in the women's 200m with a time of 25.59, over half a second ahead of second place.

T'ya Suber also brought home a gold medal in the women's 400m with a time of 59.26 - the only time under one minute. Natalie Kiefer also secured a podium in the event, finishing third with a time of 1:00.67.

For the men, Aniol Borras and Griffin Staude finished first place in the men's 1500m and 3000m, respectively. Borras clocked a time of 3:55.02 in the 1500m for the finish with Keeton Thornsbury finishing just a step behind in second with a 3:55.62.

Staude recorded a 8:30.51 in the 3000m for his first gold medal of the season. Freshman James Ndayishimiye secured another 1-2 finish for the Colonels with a time of 8:31.00.

UP NEXT

The outdoor schedule gets going in earnest as the Colonels travel to Raleigh, NC for the Raleigh Relays. The meet is set for three days, starting on March 27 through March 29.