CLEVELAND, Tenn. --- With windy and rainy conditions the norm Friday at the Flames Invitational hosted by Lee University, the Chattanooga track teams posted multiple personal records or to season times.
 
The day started with the men's 10,000 meter run in a cold, windy rain. Jasper Wilson, running in the 10,000 meter for the second time at the same race one year later, saw his best time improve by more than 21 seconds at 31:50.04 and Eric Mitchell ran his first at the longer distance with a time of 32.28.37.
 
"Both ran very consistent splits having equal 5k splits," Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyers said. "Even though the conditions were rough both had significant decreases in their PRs."
 
Running in the 1500 meter for the first time, Chattanooga's Lesley Green placed second on Day One of the Lee University Flames Invitational Friday.
 
"In the elite section if the 1500 Lesley continues to show her strength and versatility," Meyer said. "Coming from off the pace and showing a kick finishing second overall was a great result for her."
 
Green covered the distance in a time of 4:34.25 and was just over eight seconds off the lead pace set by Emory's Annika Urban. Green started well back the lead and moved up with each lap after sitting in 11^th after the first 300 meters.
 
Freshman Leah Boyd posted a personal record in the race with a time of 4:53.80, shaving 11.71 seconds off her previous best time set at the Lee Invite two weeks ago. The race was also a first for freshman Andrea Ellis who has only run the 5000 meter run previously.
 
"All three of the girls in the 1500 set season-bests or PRs," Meyer said. "Leah came from off the pace to win her heat running a really strong last 300m."
 
Transfer Sarah Unterholzer took seventh in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:06.08. Reagan Ruth set a PR in the race at 1:11.18.
 
"Reagan and Sarah had a strong headwind to contend with down the backstretch of the 400mh but ran well," Meyer said. "Sarah won her heat in a season-best. Reagan had about a two second improvement in her PR."
 
In the 200 meter dash, Imani Bryant was near her top pace at 26.85 despite running in a strong headwind for the first quarter of the race.
 
Freshman Maddie Wheatcroft ran her first 5000 meter track race of her collegiate career and placed 12^th overall with a time of 17:18.35. Faith Brown took more than five seconds off her top time set last season on the same track at the Lee Invitational.
 
"In the women's 5k Allie ran her best race of the season," Meyer said. "Faith followed that up in her heat of the 5k with another outstanding race and PR.
 
"To finish the day, Maddie paced by Lesley Green for 4000 meters at 83 per lap, ran a very impressive 17:18."
 
 
In the men's races, Erik Martinez set a PR in the 5000 meter at 15:37.34, clipping 35 seconds off the time he set at the Lee Invite two weeks ago. Ryan Phillips, running unattached, posted a time of 15:08.99.
 
"Erik Martinez went from last to second in his heat running consistently at 75 per lap for another PR," Meyer said. "Ryan did the exact same but at 73 per lap to improve his PR."
 
Aaron Isbell sliced off a few seconds in the 1500 meter run and Eammon O'Bryant finished at 4:06.09.
 
"Aaron finally was able to get under 4:00," Meyer said. "He had to go straight to the front of the race and do all the work as no one wanted to face the wind. He held on for second and Eamonn finished with his usual fast kick."
 
Day Two gets started for the Mocs at 10:30 a.m. Saturday with the women's 3000 meter Steeplechase. Emma Russum will take a shot at the event for the first time. Follow along with live scoring at GoMocs.com.
 
"We had a wonderful first day with all the kids running PRs in less than ideal conditions," Meyer said. "We are very happy with the kids performances. We look forward to see how good it goes tomorrow."
 
FRIDAY

10,000m Run	18	Jasper Wilson	31:50.04
	26	Eric Mitchell	32:28.37
1500m Run	24	Aaron Isbell	3:59.99
	52	Eammon O'Bryant	4:06.09
5000m Run	50	Ryan Phillips, unattached	15:08.99
	81	Erik Martinez	15:37.34

 

200m Dash	38	Imani Bryant	26.85
1500m Run	2	Lesley Green	4:34.25
	31	Leah Boyd	4:53.80
	51	Julianna McReynolds	5:02.37
	56	Andrea Ellis	5:10.77
400m Hurdles	7	Sarah Unterholzner	1:06.08
	17	Reagan Ruth	1:11.18
5000m Run	12	Maddie Wheatcroft	17:18.35
	52	Faith Brown	18:34.87
	80	Allie Potter	19:33.93
	DNF	Lesley Green	--

SATURDAY
Women's 3,000m  Steeplechase:
        Russum, Emma: 11:10.79 (4:35 last week 17:27 5k  ) JR-3

Men's 3,000m  Steeplechase:
        O'Bryant, Eammon: 10:20.00 (ran 10:20.13 ) SO-2


Women's 4 x 100m  Relay:
        A: 51.63 (Rennich,Wheatcroft,Ruth,Bryant)


Women's 400m  Dash:
        Rennich, Jessika: 1:03.48 (ran 1:02.38 at bryan last year transfer ) JR-3

100m  Hurdles:
        Ruth, Reagan: 16.02 (Lee University Invitational 03/25/23) SO-2

Women's 800m  Run:
        Davis, Emmy: 2:26.46 (coming off an injury closer to 2:26-24 ) JR-3
        Foley, Lexi: 2:27.37 (Samford Bulldog Invite 2023 02/10/23) FR-1

 Women's 100m  Dash:
        Bryant, Imani: 12.54 (Southern Conference Outdoor Championships 05/01/21)  SR-4
        Dearing, Hannah: 13.46  JR-3