WINSTON SALEM, N. C. –Members of the Samford University track team made their way to compete in the JDL Hilton Garden Invitational and Camel City Elite track meet held at the JDL Fast Track this past Friday and Saturday.

The Camel City Elite touted that some of the best runners in the country would compete in the two day competition and it delivered as JDL Fast Track facility records fell throughout weekend. According to Head Coach Rod Tiffin it's a great opportunity to spread the Samford brand.

"It's always exciting to have our athletes invited to run in these events," Exclaimed Tiffin. " And get the Samford uniform in front new and different young people."

Redshirt senior Lauren D'Alessio was the first Bulldog to compete for SU. The Pelham, Ala. native posted a season best and SoCon leading mark of 9:39.75 in the 3000m event, which was good enough to break the 9:40.04 facility record previously set by Carmen Graves of Roanoke Valley Elite on Dec. 7, 2013, but that time was shattered by nine other great runners to push D'Alessio down to finish 10^th overall.

Deborah Mair finished with a time of 9:02.79 and Brooks Beast Track Club teammate Jessica Tebo followed up with a time of 9:04.52 to lead all runners in the event.

Sophomores Brandon Hazouri and Nathan Hendershot were the next Samford duo to compete in the Camel City Elite competition. The 800m event was stacked with star studded talent that featured Olympians and former national champions.

"Brandon and Nathan both ran personal bests in their event and got to race with some of the best athletes in the U.S." said Tiffin.

Hazouri and Hendershot posted times of 1:51.64 and 1:51.95, both personal bests, which placed the two 6^th and 7^th respectively in the event. Nick Symmonds, a two-time USA Olympian, of Brooks Beast Tc took first place in the race with a time of 1:48.64.

Performances against elite level talent such as the talent faced this weekend only helps going forward deeper into the season and closer to the SoCon Championships.

"These races, like all of our races, are to set us up to run well at the conference championship. It shows where we are and what we need to do to be ready for conference." said Tiffin. "Next week's meet will have a lot of mid major schools competing so we should really see where we are.

Should be fun to get back on the track after taking a couple of weeks off."

Samford track will be back in action on Feb. 8-9, at the Birmingham Crossplex for the Samford Multi & Invitational. The two-day event starts at 2 p.m. on Feb. 8, and 9 a.m. on Feb. 9.