LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bellarmine University track and field opened the 2023 outdoor season in Owsley B. Frazier Stadium with several top finishes in Friday's Jim Vargo Invitational despite nasty weather conditions.

Bellarmine's 4x100 and 4x400 women's relay teams — both comprised of junior Avery Hedden, sophomore Chloe Freilinger, senior Katrina Kamarute and sophomore Naimah Slaughter — placed first in both races, finishing in 49.87 and 3:57.37, respectively.

Freilinger also took top honors in the 100 (12.73), as did senior Jenna Walker in the 100 hurdles (15.32). Hedden and Kamarute placed 3-4 in the 100, while freshman Kylah Brooks, Walker and freshman Jansen Story finished 2-4 in the 200.

Senior Ellie Schroeder placed second in the 800 and fourth in the 1500. Senior Emma Wells was fifth in the 800. Freshman Avery Koch took third in the discus, and sophomore Lauren DeBold was fourth in the hammer throw.

Bellarmine's 4x400 men's relay team of senior Alex Wallingford, freshman Alex Hooten, senior Nate Smith and junior John Cason placed first in 3:37.39. The 4x100 relay team of sophomore Trevor Holbrook, junior Ike Boling, freshman Jackson Gordon and freshman Zander Hooten was the runner-up.

Alex Cole set a freshman program record in the hammer throw, placing first while hurling it 49.14 to shatter the previous record of 43.48 set by Wes Fehrenbacher in 2010. Cole also took runner-up honors in the discus, while freshman Sloan Cox added a fifth in the hammer throw.

Zander Hooten placed first in the 400 hurdles (59.62) and second in the 110 hurdles. Holbrook finished fourth in the 100, as did senior Ryan Hawkins in the 400. Alex Hooten and sophomore Jackson Gawarecki took fifth in the 800 and 1500, respectively.

Boling, Hawkins, Kamarute, Schroeder, Smith, Allison Tripure, Walker, Wallingford, Anna Wells and Emma Wells were honored on Senior Day.

Bellarmine will compete Thursday-Saturday in the Raleigh Relays.

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