The Emory University track and field program returned to the track after winter break competing at the Samford Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
A number of Eagles competed in events on Friday afternoon with the women kicking things off in field events. Graduate student Nikki Boon started things off in the high jump with a 16^th place finished and a mark of 1.56m. Freshman Anna Jennings (4.90m) and senior Caroline Hansen both took top-25 finishes in the long jump with the trio of Amaya Grant, Elsa Bildsten and Dijaye Carpenter finished eighth, 10^th, and 13^th respectively in the triple jump.
 
Senior Geoff Point-du-Jour was the lone competitor for the Emory men in the high jump finishing in ninth with a mark of 1.87m. Freshman Sam Gouvalaris (6.44m), junior Henry Brandstadter (6.38m) and freshman Ohene Dah (6.25m) all took top-25 finishes in the long jump followed by top-20 finishes from Gouvalaris and freshmen Ryan Coleman and Jason Bright in the triple jump to end the field events.
 
Starting on the track for the women was freshman Jada Kenner who had an impressive day in the 60m. She finished 13^th in the prelims with a time of 7.74 before taking seventh in the semifinals. She continued to cut her time down taking sixth in the final event with a 7.69 mark. Freshman Eva Carchidi and senior Audrey Johnson also competed in the 60m prelims and semifinals alongside Kenner. Johnson (24.98) and Kenner (25.58) later competed in the 200m dash finishing 10^th and 23^rd respectively.
 
It was a day for the newcomers with freshman Aaliyah Jalloh taking a 12^th place finish in the 400m run with a time of 58.20 followed by close finishes in the 800m run from sophomores Payton Fleming (2:26.63) and Annabelle Tanner (2:26.77). Rounding out the track events for the women were the distance runners with junior Madison Tiaffay finishing 13^th in the mile (5:09.50) and freshmen Ashlyn Pallotta (10:19.09) and Davis Johnson (10:39.02) taking top-20 finishes in the 3000m run.
 
Two relay groups competed in the 4x400m relay with the first group finishing ninth (3:59.47) and the second group taking a 12^th place finish (4:10.61).
 
Freshman Ethan Lu got things going on the track for the men taking a 17^th place finish in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.64. Sophomore Jayden Bai followed right behind finishing 21^st running an 8.81. Freshman Joshua Han also had an impressive meet running a 51.30 in the 400m dash good for a 20^th place finish followed by a fifth place finish in the 800m run from graduate student Dawit Dean. Freshman Ryan McGonigle (1:58.25) and senior Chris Belz also took top-25 finishes in the 800m run alongside Dean.
 
Three seniors competed in the mile event with Marcus Cheema leading the way with a sixth place finish (4:16.91). Scott Masterson (4:20.44) and Jonathan Orelowtiz (4:29.13) followed behind with 10^th and 17^th place finishes followed by a 22^nd place run from sophomore Kirin Karver (4:37.81). The group of graduate student Ethan Thompson (8:32.90), junior Lucas Moskovitz (8:51.61), sophomore Olin Gilster (8:52.77) and junior Nikhil Makker (8:54.36) finished the individual events in the 3000m run.
 
The men also had two relay groups compete with one taking a 16^th place finish (3:29.29) and the other finishing 18^th (3:34.73).
 
The Eagles will be back again tomorrow, Saturday, January 18 to compete in the second day of the Samford Invitational.