JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Bellarmine University freshman Alex Cole scored in the hammer throw while freshman Zander Hooten qualified for the finals in the 400 hurdles and sophomore Nolan Hester did the same in the 1500 on Thursday on the first day of the ASUN Outdoor Championships at North Florida's Hodges Stadium.

Cole and Hooten both set new program records while Hester nearly did.

Cole earned three points in the hammer throw after finishing sixth. His heave of 54.34 broke his own freshman program record of 53.18.

Hooten earned a spot in the finals after placing sixth in the 400 hurdles in 54.62. That performance bested his previous freshman program record of 55.42.

In the 1500, the top 4 from each of the two heats advanced to the finals along with the next four best times. Hester was among the qualifiers after finishing in 3:49.99, which threatened Robert Sandlin's overall program record of 3:48.42 set in 2013.

ASUN Outdoor Championships action continues Friday and Saturday.

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