ROCK HILL, SC—A pair of school records were set as Buffalo State’s outdoor track and field teams opened the 2007 season this weekend at the primarily Division I Winthrop University/Asics Invitational.

Toya Edwards (Brooklyn/Clara Barton) took down the 24-year-old school record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.10. The previous record was 59.20 by Robin Robinson in 1983. Danielle Smelser (Plattsburgh/Plattsburgh) broke the 5,000-meter run record that stood for 21 years, placing fifth with a time of 19:23.77. Becky Dederick set the previous record of 19:39.30 in 1986. Jenelle Orosz (N. Tonawanda/N. Tonawanda) was seventh in the high jump (1.57 meters), Sarah Gedraitis (Lockport/Akron) was seventh in the hammer throw (39.42 meters), and LaVonne Barfield (Rochester/Wilson Magnet) was seventh in the triple jump (10.75 meters).

On the men’s side, Tim Diegelman (Clarence/Clarence) and Ray Shadowens (Troup, TX/Arp) finished fifth (5,063 points) and sixth (5,060 points) respectively in the decathlon. Mario Hicks (Corning/Corning West) was seventh in the 110-meter hurdles in 15.01.

Buffalo State will continue to try its hand against some of the nation’s top competition at the Duke University Invitational next weekend.