NEW CONCORD, Ohio - The West Liberty University indoor track and field teams returned to action for the first time since the New Year competing at Muskingum University on Saturday and picked up right where they left off breaking four school records.

The first record to fall was in the 500m race on both the men's and women's side. Graduate student Ivy Allen ran a 1:29.91 breaking the previous record that stood since 2018 by almost two seconds. In the men's race, both competitors for the Hilltoppers set school records. Graduate student Michael Harriman crossed the line in 1:07.76 finishing in third place and senior Tavian Richardson was right behind with a 1:07.78.

The 4x200m relay teams also broke program records. The men's squad of Hunter Patterson, Elian Lamar, Gage Patterson, and Mikhi Anderson won the meet and etched their names in the record book with a 1:33.72. The women's quartet of Hailey Carreon, Abbe Stackpole, Madison Cadle, and Sierra Lanham snapped the school record with a 1:52.16 and finished second in the meet.

Five individuals earned gold medals atop podiums in six different events. Hunter Patterson led the way picking up two first place finishes with a 7.02 in the 60m dash and a 22.99 in the 200m. Maggie Kovalcik highlighted the women's sprinters with a 27.12 to win the meet.

In jumps, freshman Sierra Lanham leaped 4.99m to win the women's long jump event and Reese Burnside cleared 4.55m to claim gold in the men's pole vault. Then, in the circle Sydney Jefferys tossed a 14.52m winning the women's weight throw

Arthur Williams was right behind Patterson in the men's 200m with a 23.26 finishing second, while Abigail Masters (28.13) and Sierra Lanham (28.23) came in third and fourth, respectively, in the women's race.

Hailey Carreon ran a 9.58 in the women's 60m hurdles earning a silver medal, while Mikhi Anderson was on the same podium step after posting an 8.52 in the men's race.

Mara Pendergrast and Jai'lah Walker both cleared 1.55m to finish second in the women's high jump, while school record holders Liam Vinskovich and Dillon Meintel both had a 1.90m jump tying for third.

Daminn Cunningham (6.82m) and Vinskovich (6.68m) came in second and third in the men's long jump. 

Olivia Combs leaped a 9.85m earning silver in the women's triple jump.

After tying a school record in the season opener, Mackenzie Rine got over 3.05m on her final attempt, but could not tie the record of 3.20m again finishing in third place at the meet.

Freshman Joshua Fancher earned thrower of the meet improving his personal record from 13.68m to 14.51m finishing third in the men's shot put, then placed second in the weight throw with a team-best 13.45m toss. Fellow Freshman Luis Martinez took second and led the team in shot put with a 14.72m throw.

Suzan Johnson threw a 14.32m finishing in second behind Jefferys in the women's weight event. Kennedy Martin paced the women's shot put with a 12.15m placing second in the event.

West Liberty was one of nine teams competing in the first ever meet inside the Bullock Health and Wellness Complex on the campus of Muskingum University that opened in September.

The Hilltoppers will return to Youngstown State, where they opened the season on December 2, for the YSU Collegiate Invitational on Friday.

Follow Hilltopper Track and Field all season online at HilltopperSports.com and on Twitter (@WLU_XCTF | @WLathletics), Instagram (@wlu_xctf | @wlu_athletics), and Facebook.