BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University track & field programs continued to show progress as program completed a successful meet on Friday, Feb. 12, in the Samford University Invitational held at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

"I told the team tonight that I really like the place we are in, both men and women." Head Coach Rod Tiffin said. "I think that we really took ourselves to a new level tonight and they really showed that we're ready for the conference championships in two weeks."

Senior sprinter Kimberly Ruch opened the meet for the Bulldogs with a new personal best in the women's 60-meter dash prelims with a time of 7.57 to earn a spot in the coveted finals. Ruch finished 3^rd overall in the finals but her prelim time is what stuck out the most to Tiffin.

"Kimmy (Kimberly) Ruch just continues to keep getting better and better. She had a PR today in the 200 meters by half a second and for a senior that's almost unheard of, so I'm just excited for her."

Ruch also posted two more personal bests as she turned in a time of 8.95 in the 60-meter hurdles and in the 200-meter dash (24.75 – 8^th). 

In the distance events on the women's side it was Karisa Nelson who stole the show as she bounded her way to a meet record and personal best time of 4:49.03 in the women's mile. The time now stands as the third fastest in indoor in Samford history.  

"I was really happy to see our distance girls get in and start running. For Karisa to have a PR first race out of the year is really exciting for her. It just shows how talented she is and we've always know how talented she is; just excited to see how far she can go from here."

Personal bests continued to pile up for the Bulldogs throughout the day which included Tray Oates first place finish mark of 5.30m in the men's pole vault. Oates eclipsed his personal best mark in the event of 5.20m in the effort.

"I'm really proud of those guys, they continue to jump well and our girls did really well this weekend too. You know, for Tray to get back to his form and jumping over 17-feet again was exciting for him and he really feels that he is going in the right direction."

The entirety of the Bulldogs squad health has been something to keep an eye on in the past weeks but Tiffin feels that both squads are almost at full strength again.

"We're rounding people back into shape and getting people back from injuries and the guys team is a little better spot than from what I thought a week ago."

The Bulldogs next competition will be the Southern Conference Championships which are slated for Feb. 26-27, at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

Other Notable Performances
Women

• Aerial Horton produced two personal bests and Top 10 finishes: shot Put (12.65m - 10^th) & weight throw (16.98m - 9^th).
• Sarah Sanford took 3^rd overall in the women's 60-meter hurdles finals with a time of 8.52.
• Sanford also ran an indoor personal best in the women's 400-meter dash to place 7^th with a time of 55.94.  Previous indoor best was 56.34.
• Emma Garner jumped up into the Samford indoor record book with her performance in the women's mile. The 5:00.29 was a personal best and her previous personal best was 5:08.11.
• Ansley Bos  posted an indoor personal best in the women's 3,000-meter run. Her time of 10:01.76 placed her 9^th overall and 7^th in the Samford record book. Previous personal best was 10:19.89.

 
Men

• Keyth Fightmaster came back from injury to place 5^th overall with a mark of 2.05m in the men's high jump.
• Senior Adam Jones ran his way to a 4^th place finish in the men's mile with a time of 4:14.77.
• Andrew Jaeger dropped nearly three seconds off of his personal best time in the 800 meters to place 8^th overall with a time of 1:57.42. Previous best was 2:00.13.

 
Newcomer Notes

• Tatiana Taylor recorded a personal best in the shot put with her 9^th place 12.83m. Previous was 12.45m.
• Ruby Caldwell posted a pair of personal bests: shot Put (11.01m - 15^th) & weight throw (10.22m – 24^th).
• Selena Popp upped her personal best in the long jump (5.34m - 14^th) and turned in a lower time in the 60-meter hurdles (9.77).
• Daijah White tied her personal best in the 60-meter dash (7.83) and set a new personal best in the 200-meter dash (25.54). Previous personal best was 26.24.
• Jaida Cole eclipsed her old time of 27.39 in the 200-meter dash and turned in a time of 26.49.