CLEMSON, S.C. – Baylor track and field opened the Tiger Paw Invitational on Friday morning at Clemson's Rock Norman Track and Field Complex. Alexis Brown flew to a win and another program record in the women's long jump, while Nathaniel Ezekiel and Demar Francis both recorded top-10 finishes from indoor personal bests in the men's 400 meters.
 
THE RUNDOWN – TIGER PAW INVITATIONAL
Dethroning her own personal best that set the program record at the season-opening McFerrin-12 Degree Invitational, Brown leaped out to a 21-6.25 mark on her first attempt that was never matched. She took the win in the event over Illinois' Elizabeth Ndudi in second by over six inches that ties her at No. 3 in the nation this season. Also competing, Koi Johnson hit 19-6.25 for 13^th and Alexandra Rutenis took 35^th.
 
Ezekiel stormed out of the blocks in the men's 400 meters on Friday, narrowly missing the Nigerian national record by three-hundredths of a second for a 45.54 collegiate silver medal. That mark, an indoor personal best for Ezekiel, is the fifth-fastest this season in NCAA DI competition, barring any additional marks ran across the country on Friday. Francis also put in an indoor personal-best mark at 46.19 for sixth amongst collegiate competitors.
 
The women's 400 meters was led by Imaobong Uko with a season-best of 53.63 for 25^th place. Gontse Morake ran a 56.10 for 56^th and Jasmine Gryne followed in 58^th after 56.18.
 
The freshman pole vaulting duo of Alencia Lentz and Molly Haywood left another invitational pole vault competition tied. Clearing one bar of 13-5¼, the two finished fourth. In the open pole vault competition, Kierstyn Ballard cleared two bars to top out at 11-11 ¾ for a ninth-place tie.
 
Gary Moore Jr. was a finalist in the men's weight throw with a 64-11.25 sling, while the women's event saw Makayla Long (58-6) and Victoria Adu (58-2.5) finish back-to-back in 12^th and 13^th, respectively.
 
All three Bears competing in the women's mile finished in within the top 10 with Jackie Addy sixth, Hayden Gold ninth and Rosanna Pugh in 10^th.
 
The first round of the 60-meter dash featured three Bears that each did not advance. Michaela Francois crossed the line first for 42^nd place, with Bria Bullard in 47^th and Summer Sergeant in 56^th. In the men's race, Kamden Jackson led in 31^st place with De'montray Callis in 39^th and Ricquan Graham in 65^th.
 
In the 60-meter hurdles, the lone Bear to compete was Sima Lucero, who took 47^th.
 
THE RUNDOWN – VALENTINE INVITATIONAL
Ellie Hodge ran in the mile on Saturday evening in Boston, Mass., at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational. Tabbing a 4:45.15 personal-best mark that puts her seventh in Baylor history, Hodge finished 56^th out of 391 total entries.
 
UP NEXT
Baylor is back at the Rock Norman Track and Field Complex to complete the Tiger Paw Invitational on Saturday. The first events begin at 8 a.m. CT and the meet-ending 4x400-meter relay is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT.