HOUSTON – Six Bulldogs set personal records for the Louisiana Tech track and field teams on Friday's opening day of the Robert Platt Invitational at the Yeoman Fieldhouse.
 
Johannon Murray and Jiana Stewartburgess opened the meet with top 10 finishes in the pentathlon. Murray claimed fourth with a score of 3395 while claiming the best distance in the shot put with a throw of 11.25m. Stewartburgess tied her personal best of 3207 to finish sixth while also setting a new personal record of 9.46 in the 60m hurdles.
 
All five Bulldogs participating in the women's 60m hurdles and 60m qualified for the finals on Saturday. Tonie-Ann Forbes finished with the fourth fastest time and won heat five at 8.47 in the hurdles to qualify. She would return 40 minutes later and take heat nine of the 60m with a time of 7.51 to make it two-for-two on the day.
 
Nike Praetzel was the only other runner on the women's side of the hurdles for the Bulldogs and qualified with a time of 8.57, a new personal best.
 
Shatalya Dorsett and Ulanda Lewis earned a spot in the 60m finals by winning their heats with times of 7.53 and 7.55, respectively. Kaylyn Heath gave Tech their fourth qualifier for the women with a time of 7.64.
 
The men had three runners make it to Saturday for the 60m led by Rodney Heath Jr. with a heat-winning time of 6.75. Mateo Smith made it through with a 6.90 to take heat five. Julian Forde qualified with a 6.69, moving him to 55th on the NCAA performance list.

Tibet Sancak set a new PR with an 8.28 during heat two of the 60m hurdles to be the only Bulldog to qualify for the finals.
 
Jacob Phillips, Jamara Patterson, and Nia Wiley set personal bests in the 400m. Phillips crossed with a time of 50.73 for the men. Patterson finished with a 57.33, while Wiley ran a 57.88 for the women.
 
UP NEXT
The Robert Platt Invitational will finish up on Saturday with field events beginning at 11 a.m. and the running events starting at 1:30 p.m. 
 
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LA Tech Athlete Field Events Results
Women's Pentathlon
Johannon Murray (4th) | 3395
Jiana Stewartburgess (6th) | 3207 Tied PR
 
60m Hurdles
Johannon Murray | 9.09
Jiana Stewartburgess | 9.46 PR

HJ
Jiana Stewartburgess | 1.65m (5'5'')
Johannon Murray | 1.59m (5'2.5'')

Shot Put
Johannon Murray | 11.25m (36'11'')
Jiana Stewartburgess | 9.27m (30'5'')
 
Long Jump
Jiana Stewartburgess | 5.22m (17'1.5'')
Johannon Murray | 5.08m (16'8'')
 
800m 
Johannon Murray | 2:38.77
Jiana Stewartburgess | 2:47.12
 
Weight Throw | Women's 
Elizabeth Sebera (14th) | 15.66m (51'4.5'')


Weight Throw | Men's 
Nemoy Cockett (13th) | 17.15m (56'3.25'')
 
LA Tech Athlete Running Events
 
60m Prelims | Men's
Rodney Heath Jr. | 6.75Q
Mateo Smith | 6.90Q
Julian Forde | 6.69q
Karo Oghomi | 6.96
Devin Walton | 6.97
Cobe Johnson | 7.15
 
60m Prelims | Women's
Tonie-Ann Forbes | 7.51Q
Shatalya Dorsett | 7.53Q
Ulanda Lewis | 7.55Q
Kaylyn Heath | 7.64q
 
60m H Prelims | Women's
Tonie-Ann Forbes | 8.47Q
Nike Praetzel | 8.57q PR
 
60m H Prelims | Men's
Tibet Sancak | 8.28q PR
Urijah Williams | 8.48
 
400m | Men's
Valentino Rudolph (17th) | 49.24
Tim Rummelhagen (18th) | 49.26
Laeden Tucker (24th) | 49.43
Jamie Sancho (31st) | 49.91
Desmyn McCall (42nd) | 50.58
Cullen Hronek (44th) | 50.61
Jacob Phillips (47th) | 50.73 PR
Marshall Ellis (52nd) | 51.21
Phillip Gray Jr. (54th) | 51.39
Evan Taylor (58th) | 52.06
 
400m | Women's
Jamara Patterson (12th) | 57.33 PR
Osaretin Usenbor (13th) | 57.56
Nia Wiley (15th) | 57.88 PR
Jenaia Williams (20th) | 58.26
Faith Tarver (23rd) | 58.59
Chanel Honeywell (28th) | 58.88
Nariah Parks (29th) | 59.39