DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Saint Leo men's and women's track programs opened the 2021 season Saturday at the Eagle Invitational hosted by Embry-Riddle. The Lions picked up 14 top-10 finishes over seven events while men's senior Shane Bracken opened up his season with the fastest 1,500m time in NCAA Division II this season.  The women were led by sophomore Robyn Burrows and freshman Anna O'Connor who each picked up event victories.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Location: ERAU Track & Field Complex | Daytona Beach, Fla.
Host Institution: Embry-Riddle
 
TOP PERFORMERS
SAINT LEO MEN:

• The men's top finish came in the 1,500m where Bracken pulled away from the field for the victory. Bracken's time if 3:51.18 is the top time in NCAA Division II this season and just shy of a provisional qualifying mark for the upcoming 2021 NCAA Track & Field Championships. Bracken was joined in the race by three other Lions. Freshman Luca Liard picked up a top-10 finish in his first collegiate track event as he placed seventh with a time of 4:11.18. Fellow freshman Jacob Barnes came across the line in 4:40.45 to place 26^th while freshman Colby Steger stopped the clock at 4:55.36, good for 29^th.
• Freshman Lucas Liard led the way in the only other men's event in which the Lions competed as he took ninth in the 800m. Liard turned in a time of 2:05.16 to pick up his second top-10 finish of the day. Senior Brandon Cruz cruised in at 2:12.76 to place 15^th while freshman Jacob Barnes came in two spots back at 17^th in a time of 2:16.14.

 
SAINT LEO WOMEN:

• Freshman Anna O'Connor opened the meet with a victory in the 5,000m as she topped the field with a time of 18:51.30 in her first collegiate appearance on the track.  
• Sophomore Robyn Burrows led a contingent of six Lions in the 200m as she won the Lions final event on the track. Burrows flew around the turn to take the victory at 26.80. Redshirt sophomore Skyelar Aguilar earned a top-five finish as she took fifth in 27.42. Sophomore Vyctoria Boger placed eighth after crossing the line in 28.32 while freshman Tanisha Cave rounded out the top-10 finishers with a 10^th-place showing at 28.95. Junior Tayler Wright just missed out on the top-10 as she finished right behind Cave in 11^th after stopping the clock at 29.38. The final Lion finisher was freshman Barbara Whitty who placed 14^th in a time of 32.83.
• Junior Aoife Mahony picked up a top-five finish in the 1,500m as she took fourth after completing the distance in 4:53.46. Junior Kerry Reilly took 19^th in the event with a time of 5:33.43.
• Aguilar, Burrows, Boger and junior Georgia Clode opened their day in the 400m. Aguilar led the way with a sixth place finish in 1:02.52 just edging out Burrows and Boger who finished in seventh and eighth, respectively. Burrows rounded the track in 1:03.28 while Boger posted a time of 1:04.08. Clode rounded out the group in 13^th with a time of 1:06.63.
• Cave, Wright and Whitty on the other hand started their day in the 100m. Cave and Wright earned top-10 finishes while Whitty just missed out in 11^th.  Cave took seventh after sprinting down the track in 13.75. Wright finished two spots back in ninth at 14.35 while Whitty finished two spots behind Wright in 11^th at 15.14.

 
UP NEXT:
Saint Leo heads south to Miramar, Fla. to compete in the South Florida Challenge Meet #2 on Tuesday, March 9.    
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on Saint Leo track, be sure to visit SaintLeoLions.com.  Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Lions news by following Saint Leo Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
 
Keeping Our Lions Healthy & Safe
Saint Leo University Athletics is keeping our student-athletes healthy and safe by following a number of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This includes having student-athletes tested or screened on a regular basis, traveling in smaller groups, holding competitions without fans in attendance, avoiding overnight trips, and wearing masks when not competing. These safety standards meet those set by the NCAA Division II and the Sunshine State Conference President's Council. At Saint Leo University, the COVID-19 Incident Command Team also reviews the teams' safety protocol and monitors adherence on a regular basis.