GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville University indoor track season began Friday at the Jimmy Carnes Invitational in Gainesville. After a successful indoor season the year prior, the Dolphins hit the ground running well once more.

The day got started early with jumper Eva Bellot taking sixth overall in the high jump. Bellot hit a 1.55 meter jump, which also tied her with two other jumpers from North Florida. 

Next up was the mile run, led by Mya Bodrato's 12^th place finish. Bodrato ran a 5:02.90 mile which was .07 seconds faster than the 13^th place runner from the University of Florida and good for a new personal record. Madeline Weiler finished in 25^th, followed by Josephine Leonard (40^th), Gabby Huxtable (43^rd), Alexis Holmes (44^th), Jordan Dix (45^th), Eryn Field (48^th), Annah Priyadi (51^st), Lana Grelli (52^nd), Emily Haney (53^rd), Lexi Schwartz (55^th), and Emma DeRosa (57^th). 

In the long jump, Jacksonville got a trio of top-flight showings. Sanaa Geter finished fifth with an impressive 5.67-meter leap. Geter's jump was only .01 meters shy of fourth place. Julia Sue-Kam-Ling took home seventh.

Jacksonville fielded two 60 meter hurdlers in Joy Whittington and Geter. Whittington finished just .09 seconds shy of an automatic qualifying bid for the finals.
 
During the middle of the day Jacksonville took to sprinting and competed in the 60, 300 and 400 meter dashes. Perennial podium placer Cassie Thompson shined in the 300, earning herself fourth place overall. Guatemalan Olympian Mariandree Chacon took home 20^th in the event. 

Both Thompson and Chacon made history during their time running in the 300. Thompson set a new school record with her 38.12 time. Chacon set a personal record with her time of 40.92.

Priyadi finished as the program's best 400 runner by placing  27^th. 

To cap off the Carnes Invitational Jacksonville competed in the 4x400 relay. The unit of Joanna Rogers, Chacon, Sue-Kam-Ling and Thompson earned a 14^th place finish with a time of 3:59.62. They finished just a second behind a unit from Florida State.

"The first meet always serves as a starting point to assess where we are the long break and I am happy with our performance," head coach Bambi Brundage said. "We had a solid showing and are in a great position moving forward. I am excited to see the progression of our team this season."

Next up for JU will be a trip back down to Gainesville for the RADD Sports Invitational on Friday, Jan. 24.