BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- The Chattanooga track and field team opened the UAB Spring Invite with four races and multiple personal records Friday in Birmingham, Ala.
 
The meet started with the women's 1500 meter run. Emma Russum and Maddie Wheatcroft stayed among the leaders despite the fast start to the race. Russum started out fourth in the first 700 meters but made her way forward to finish second with a personal best time 4:35.274, blowing out her previous best time by nearly 24 seconds.
 
Maddie also posted a PR, finishing the race in a time of 4:39.79.
 
"The first lap was fast," Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyer said. "The second lap slowed a bit. Then with 700 to go, the pace picked up. Emma closed hard and Maddie was just behind her."
 
Russum's final lap was the second fastest 400 meter of the race.
 
Leah Boyd, running in her first track and field 5000 meter placed fourth overall with a time of 18:56.33. She started in the top fourth of the group and picked her way up as close as third in the race. Andrea Ellis and Emily Naylor each improved on their previous times in the race. Ellis placed ninth with a PR time 19:17.69. Naylor finished 17^th in the race just ahead of teammate Camden Morris and posted a PR 20:18.77.
 
"Leah, Andrea, Emily and Camden all stayed off the pace for the first 2K and then accelerated through the race and the field," Meyers said. "There were 30-plus at the start and they negative split the race. They all ran really smart races and paced much better than last week."
 
Faith Brown is familiar with the 3000 meter Steeplechase while Julianna McReynolds and Eammon O'Bryant were each making their first attempt at the obstacle-filled race.
 
"Faith, having done this a couple of times, paced herself well and had a huge PR," Meyer said. "Julianna raced well in her first attempt."
 
Brown improved her time in the race by more than 16 seconds, placing seventh with a time of 11:52.04. McReynolds was next across the line at 12:24.97.
 
Eammon started out conservative since it was his first attempt and did great over the water jumps," Meyer said. "He picked up the pace in the second K and finished well."
 
O'Bryant was third overall in the race with a time of 10:20.13.
 
The Mocs will continue the competition Saturday with the first race slated to start at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. The link for live stats is available online at GoMocs.com.
 
Women's 1500 meter

2	Emma Russum	4:35.28	4:59.15
3	Maddie Wheatcroft	4:39.79	4:43.52
15	Lexi Foley	5:17.30	First 1500m

 
Women's 3000 meter Steeplechase

7	Faith Brown	11:52.04	12:08.61
8	Julianna McReynolds	12:24.97	First SC

 
Women's 5000 meter

4	Leah Boyd	18:56.33	First 5000m
9	Andrea Ellis	19:17.69	19:40.95
17	Emily Naylor	20:18.77	20:30.76
18	Camden Morris	20:26.00	20:10.60

 
Men's 3000 meter Steeplechase

3

Eammon O'Bryant

10:20.13

First SC