CLEVELAND, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's track and field teams began competition Friday at the Flames Invitational, hosted by Lee University.

The Tusculum men are tied for 11th place out of 31 teams that scored in the first 11 events, while the Pioneer women have yet to score through 10 events. Competition will conclude Saturday in 10 men's and 10 women's events, starting at 9 a.m.

MEN'S RECAP
Freshman Joshua Stephens placed second in the triple jump with a best mark of 13.95 meters (45 feet, 9 1/4 inches). His best jump was the 10th-best in program history and moved him into fourth place on the program performance list in the event. David Saruni ran a career-best 56.35 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles and finished in fifth place.

In the 200 meters, five Pioneers ran their way into the top 10 on the program performance list in the event. Jarvis Barber Jr. finished ninth overall (21.74 seconds) and took over fourth place on the list, while Jordan Taylor was 12th in 21.85 seconds for fifth all-time at Tusculum.

Devan Hart ran 22.03 seconds for 17th place in the standings and sixth in school history, followed by Zackary Nelson in 21st place at 22.09 for seventh all-time at TU. Marquel Pittman placed 25th overall in 22.19 seconds and earned eighth on the program performance list in the 200.

In the 1500 meters, Antonio Aparicio was the Pioneers' top finisher with a time of 4:04.85, while Evan Bruce went into eighth place on the program performance list with a time of 4:25.73.

Alabama Huntsville is in first place through 11 events with 70 points, followed by host Lee with 52.5 points in second and Findlay in third with 29 points.

WOMEN'S RECAP
Tusculum's top finishers were Kenisha Stubbs, who was 11th in the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:08.90, and Amber Hogan who placed 11th in the hammer throw at 36.30 meters (119 feet, 1 inch) which is the second-best mark in program history. Hogan was 16th in the discus with a mark of 23.46 meters (76 feet, 11 inches).

In the 200 meters, Destiny Lottie ran 26.06 seconds to move into fifth place on the program performance list. Silvia Bah was timed at 27.24 seconds and Earthaiza Watkins posted a time of 27.63 seconds.

Emily Coddington had the ninth-fastest time in school history in the 1500 meters as she crossed the line in 4:57.61, while Celine McNally took over third place on the Tusculum performance list in the event by running 5:03.32. In the 5000 meters, Erin Bruce knocked 40 seconds off her previous career best and ran the 10th-fastest time in program history at 19:30.14.

Lee leads the team standings through 10 events with 60 points, with Findlay in second place with 53. Hillsdale (42 points), Cedarville (29) and Alabama Huntsville (26.5) round out the top five among the 24 teams that scored on Friday.

Flames Invitational - at Cleveland, Tenn. (Day 1 of 2)
Tusculum results
MEN
200: 9. Jarvis Barber Jr., 21.74; 12. Jordan Taylor, 21.85; 17. Devan Hart, 22.03; 21. Zackary Nelson, 22.09; 25. Marquel Pittman, 22.19; 48. Gerard Hearst, 22.77; 51. Stephen Brewer, 22.80; 74. Xavion Bogus, 23.73; 82. Landen Locklear, 24.46.
400 hurdles: 5. David Saruni, 56.35.
1500: 51. Antonio Aparicio, 4:04.85; 76. Kyler Hodges, 4:11.07; 99. Evan Bruce, 4:26.77; 100. Carson Walls, 4:27.72.
Triple jump: 2. Joshua Stephens, 13.95m (45-9 1/4).

Team scores (11 events): 1. Alabama Huntsville 70; 2. Lee 52.5; 3. Findlay 29; 4. Carson-Newman 27; 5. Hillsdale 24; 11. Tusculum 12.

WOMEN
200: 28. Destiny Lottie, 26.06; 54. Silvia Bah, 27.24; 58. Earthaiza Watkins, 27.63; 66. Judy Chellah, 28.22; 72. Emerald Jones, 29.78.
400 hurdles: 11. Kenisha Stubbs, 1:08.90.
1500: 48. Emily Coddington, 4:57.61; 54. Celine McNally, 5:03.32.
5000: 89. Erin Bruce, 19:30.14.
Hammer throw: 11. Amber Hogan, 36.30m (119-1).
Discus: 16. Amber Hogan, 23.46m (76-11).

Team scores (10 events): 1. Lee 60; 2. Findlay 53; 3. Hillsdale 42; 4. Cedarville 29; 5. Alabama Huntsville 26.5.