OXFORD, Miss. – Indiana State men's and women's track & field hit the ground running in its outdoor season opener with several strong performances at Day One of the Joe Walker Invite at Ole Miss on Friday.
 
Senior Devyn Mikell, a two-time NCAA East Region qualifier in the long jump in 2015 and 2016, won the long jump at 7.18m (23-06.75) – currently the 16th-best in the East Region at this early point of the outdoor season.
 
Sophomore Cassaundra Roper came close to taking an event title of her own in the women's hammer, coming away the runner-up at a four-meter career-best. Roper finished second at 52.03m (170-08), which puts her into a tie for 10th all-time at Indiana State with Katie Barrett's mark from 1999.
 
Indiana State had a very strong open in both the men's and women's 200-meter dash on Friday. Jaynard Keys led the way in seventh place at a wind-legal PR of 21.40 seconds, with teammate Tristan Parmley right behind him in eighth also at a career-best time of 21.50. Senior Tyrell Dowdell, who normally specializes as a quarter-miler, also finished in the top-third in 20th at a PR of 21.97.
 
Freshman Shana Cooper kept the wheels turning from her impressive indoor campaign with a 14th-place finish in the women's 200 at an overall PR of 24.75.
 
Junior Taylor Austin had a very impressive open in the 1500-meter, finishing seventh overall at 4:34.39. Austin, the defending MVC steeplechase champion, ran the second-fastest 1500 time in school history last outdoor season at 4:29.47. Current senior associate AD Angie Lansing still holds the record at 4:27.92.
 
Other notable performances include a four-five finish in the men's pole vault by Trey Kennedy and Riley Smith, both at 4.65m (15-03.00), and Caitlyn Redmon in the women's long jump (sixth, 5.64m/18-06.00).
 
Action will pick back up for the Sycamores at 1:00 p.m. ET tomorrow with the women's discus and women's triple jump.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Track and Field team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.