RICHMOND, Va. – Hunter Watkins and Charlsie Bowen each hit NCAA provisional marks to lead Mansfield track & field in the outdoor season opener Friday at Richmond's Fred Hardy Invitational.
 
Watkins had a big day in his collegiate outdoor debut, hitting an NCAA provisional mark in the javelin with his best attempt of 60.61 meters. The freshman's distance was good for a second place finish in the event.
 
Bowen hit her best mark of the 2016-17 seasons with a provisional height of 3.65 meters to win the pole vault. The height was just shy of the junior's career best height of 3.70 meters.
 
Kenzie Jones won the 10,000-meter run with a PSAC qualifying time of 39:03. Kirsten Anderson also hit a conference time and finished third in the 10K at 39:34.23.
 
A pair of Mountaineers hit PSAC qualifying marks in the steeplechase on Friday in senior Allison McCurry and sophomore Ryan Clifford. McCurry was sixth in the women's race at 12:09 with Clifford taking third in the men's race with a time of 10:01.
 
In the 400-meter hurdles, Nicholas Auchenbach registered a conference mark and finished eighth overall with his time of 56.38.
 
The Mountaineers are back in action for day two of the invitational on Saturday.