The Hornet squad registered 32 new personal-best marks during their final home meet of the outdoor season this weekend.

Sacramento State hosted the track and field Spring Invitational Saturday at Hornet Stadium.

“We start training in September and we aim to excel toward the end of the year,” Hornet sprinters coach Michael Gipson.

Freshman LaVietra Stanton placed first in the 100-meter hurdles (14.27) establishing a career best and third in the long jump (17-7.50).

“Two weeks ago Stanton ran a 14.83 and Saturday she ran a 14.27,” Gipson said. “I predicted her to run this well and I only expect her to improve.”

Sophomore Stephanie Byrd ran her career-best in the 100-meter dash with an 11.98 to lead all Hornet women.

In the 800-meter run, sophomore Angela Mercado placed second with a personal-best time of 2 minutes,15.95 seconds.

Following Mercado was teammate junior Heather Clark, who placed third with a 2:16.15 to also lead the squad.

Placing second in discus with a career-high 142-feet, 1-inch mark was freshman Kathryn Birkmaier.

“Two weeks ago Birkmaier was in the hospital with a hurt back and Saturday she came out and threw a career-high,” Gipson said.

In the javelin, junior Lorea Jones led all Hornets with a throw of 122-3.

The women?s 4×100-meter relay team placed first for the Hornets with a winning time of 4:02.46.

Senior Sara Swan also finished first in the 5,000-meters with a time of 19:56.03, while second place went to teammate sophomore Annette Corey with a time of 20:16.45.

“The whole team has worked real hard all year to get this far,” Gipson said.

For the men, juniors Jonathan Davis (10.57, 100-meter) and Howard Story, Jr. (1:52.19, 800-meter), sophomore Christopher Brown (21.89, 200-meter) and freshman Obi Osuji (48.18, 400-meter) combined to lead the men?s squad, as all recorded personal-best marks.

Story?s mark places him fifth in the program record book.

Placing first in the long jump with a leap of 22-11 was junior Jay D. Coles. Coles also placed third in the triple jump with a leap of 45-10.50 to also lead the men?s squad.

The Hornet men duplicated the women?s feat in the 4×100-meter relay with a season-high time of 40.92. The quartet?s dash places it third in the outdoor record book.

The Santana triplets left an indelible mark on the Spring Invitational, finishing in consecutive places during the 400-meter hurdles.

Nick Santana placed second, while Chris Santana took third with a time of 53.84.

Jeff Santana rounded out the trio with a 400-meter hurdle time of 54.31, good enough for fourth.

In the 5,000-meter race, Hornet junior Michael Santarosa placed first with a time of 17:06.50.

“There were a lot of parents at this meet, since it was our last home outdoor meet, along with good track conditions brought a lot of career-highs and personal-bests for us.” Gipson said.

The event also featured former Olympians Dan O?Brien, Eugene Swift and Natasha Mayers.

Swift and O?Brien finished in first and second place in the 110-meter hurdles, respectively. Swift crossed the line first with a time of 13.56, while O?Brien pulled up the rear in 14.20.

Sac State closest competitor, Nick Santana, finished in eighth place with a time of 15.12.

Mayers finished first in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.21.

Sac State will next compete in the Coca-Cola Modesto Relays track and Field festival on Saturday in Modesto, Calif.

Hornet prep signee Arsenio Corbin will compete against the nation?s top prep hurdlers at the Golden West Invite at Hornet Stadium on June 8.

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