The Sacramento State track and field team started the outdoor season on a positive note Saturday, opening the season with the Bruce Drummond Invitational at Hornet Stadium.

Lorea Jones and Robert Linkul posted NCAA West Regional qualifying marks in their respective events.

Jones won the javelin with a throw of 41.53 meters.

“I’m happy that I qualified early in the season, now I can concentrate on training and improving,” Jones said.

Linkul finished fourth in the hammer throw with a mark of 61.39 meters. Both athletes will go on to compete in the NCAA West Regional Championships on May 30-31 in Palo Alto, Calif.

Four male Hornets won their events: Dustin Fee in the 800-meters (one minute, 54 seconds), Cuco Chavez in the 5,000 meters (15:18.51) and Theo Daniels in the pole vault (15 feet, 6.25 inches).

Jay D. Coles not only placed first in the long jump (22-6.25), but in the triple jump (46-2.0) as well. Both the 4×100-meter “A” squad (41.20) and the 4×400-meter “A” squad (3:17.40) relay teams came in first place for the Hornets.

Jonathan Davis placed second in the 100-meter dash (10.85) and third in the 200 meters. The Santana triplets, Jeff, Nick and Chris, placed second, third and fourth in the 400-meter hurdles, respectively.

Four more Hornet men finished in the top three of their respective events: Brandon Parker and Larry Harris in the long jump, Kenan Smith in the 400 meters and Charles Amey in the 110-meter hurdles.

For the Hornet women, Shanita Bryant won the long jump with a leap of 5.82 meters and placed eighth in the 100 meters. Bryant has recently struggled through a severe strain in her left hamstring, a banged-up ankle and a minor back injury.

“I am satisfied and proud that I finished the competition,” said Bryant of her day’s performances. “My goals for the season are to get healthy, then I can achieve any goal I want.”

Kate Birkmaier set a personal record in the shotput by almost one half foot while placing second in the event. She also set a personal record in the hammer throw by four feet, finishing sixth. Birkmaier also finished fourth in the discus.

“This felt really good,” Birkmaier said. “I worked really hard this week at practice so I guess it paid off.”

Ileah Jackson placed second in the javelin throw and threw a personal record in the shot put.

Jennifer Burkalter in the 800-meter run (2:15.60), Roshena Duree in the 100-meter hurdles (14.23), Melissa Madeson in the 5,000 meters (17:14.13) and Regina Ollison in the triple jump (36-09.75) rounded out the women that won their events.

Sabrina Kirkwood placed third in the shot put. Jessica Thomas placed second in both the long jump and the 100-meter dash. LeClaire Ebow placed third in the 100-meter hurdles and Heather Clark placed second in the 400-meter dash. Ashlee Gary placed third in the 200 meters and Angela Mercado placed third in the 400 meters.

No team scores were kept for the competition; it was an open meet with teams from Southern Oregon, Portland State, Humboldt State, Oregon Tech, Fresno Pacific, Cal, Santa Clara, San Francisco and Menlo.

The Sac State track and field team will compete again Saturday in Davis at the Aggie Invitational.

Click here to send private feedback about this article to the State Hornet’s Sports staff.