LAKE CHARLES, La. – Senior Sharrona Williams's record-setting performance in the 55 meters jump-started another strong outing for the Southeastern Louisiana track and field teams at the McNeese Invite II Friday at McNeese's Ralph O. Ward Recreation Complex.

    Williams took first in the 55 in 7.10 seconds, breaking the Lady Lion record of 7.12 set by Nia Stewart at the McNeese Invite #1 on Jan. 18, 2013.

    Williams's victory was one of five on the day by the Lady Lions who finished second to McNeese, 82-43. The Southeastern men had a pair of first places, including a national qualifying mark by sophomore Rodney Ruffin, in taking second to McNeese as well, 84-52.

    "She really kind of set the tone for the weekend," Southeastern head coach Sean Brady said of Williams. "We had a great start for this meet. It was a real small competition but we had some great performances. The women really had a great day. We just had a ton of personal and seasonal bests today and almost across the board we had people make improvements. It was a really good start to the weekend and if we carry this on to Sunday and we have a great meet Sunday, it will just be a really successful weekend."

    Southeastern will take a smaller group of athletes Sunday to the KMS Invitational at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala.

    Four newcomers picked up their first victories for the Lady Lions on Friday. Junior Treshanna Taylor captured the 400 in a personal-best 1 minute, 65 seconds. Freshman Lill-Ann Hochkeppler also set a PR in winning the 600 in 1:38.56. Freshman Ayaunee Williams led four Lady Lions in the top five of the 55-meter hurdles, winning in a personal-best 8.60. And freshman Myrelle Powell took the high jump at 5 feet, 3.75 inches.

    Junior Clarissa Smith gave Southeastern a second-place finish in the 800 in a personal-best 2:28.40.

    Southeastern had the top four finishers in the 55 meters as Taylor placed second (PR 7.39), sophomore Kaziah Rolle third (7.46) and freshman Aareion Jackson fourth (PR 7.47).

    In the 55 hurdles, sophomore Breanne Bias set a PR in taking third in 8.72. Sophomore Taylor Celestine was fourth in 8.73 and sophomore Raven Davis fifth in a personal-best 8.82. Davis set another PR in finishing third in the 200 in 26.33. Rolle was sixth in 26.98.

    In the field events, junior Natalia Redondo finished second in the weight throw with a personal-best 53-5. Freshman Ashley Davis was fifth at 44-10.75.

    Sophomore Maddison Mizell added a second in the pole vault after clearing 10-11.75. Senior Whitney Adams finished fifth at 10-0.

    On the men's side, Ruffin won his third event in as many weeks, taking the long jump with a personal-best mark of 25 feet. That mark is tied for the 14^th best in the country in 2017.

    Sophomore Brett Olivier got his first victory as a Lion, taking the 3,000 in a personal-best 8:59.11. Senior Stephen Cassingham came in sixth in 9:30.25.

    Sophomore Michael Seither set a pair of personal bests in placing second in both the shot put (47 feet, 3.75 inches) and weight throw (47-9.25). Senior Alex Young, competing unattached, broke his own facility record in the weight throw with a first-place mark of 69-10.25.

    Senior Steven Barze was second in the 55-meter hurdles (7.85 seconds), third in the long jump (23-4) and fourth in the high jump (6-4).

    Senior Dantrayl Sanders beat his previous best time in the 55 meters in coming in second in 6.53 seconds. Junior Deandre Henderson was third in 6.54. Sanders went on to place sixth in the 200 (23.18).

    Freshman Justin Taylor set a PR in placing third in the 55 hurdles in 8.13. Sophomore Tajh Lewis placed third in the 600 in 1:21.74

    Senior Julian Maze finished fourth in the triple jump with a personal-best 46-0. Senior Harry Wiggins took fifth in the mile in 4:18.51 while freshman Grant O'Callaghan set a PR in coming in seventh (4:29.27). Devin Dixon also set a PR in finishing eighth in the 400 (54.52).