After weather cancelled the first meet of the season, the Texas A&M University-Commerce track and field team got its 2008 season underway on Thursday at the Tarleton State Relays.

In a meet against Tarleton State, Angelo State, Cameron, Eastern New Mexico, Howard Payne, McMurray, Southwestern, Sul Ross, University of Texas-Permian Basin and West Texas A&M. The Lions had multiple strong performances.

On the men's side, juniors Leonard Jackson and Leslie White were victorious in the 200-meter dash and in the high jump, respectively. Jackson was first in the 200-meter dash (22.13) and 11th in the 100-meter dash (11.14). White cleared a personal best 6-6 in the high jump and teammate Josh Conder was tied for third, clearing 6-2. In addition, White was fifth in the javelin with a throw of 180-0.

Freshman Brandon Womack in the 1,500-meter run (4:10.64) and junior Brad Dotson finished second in both their A&M-Commerce debut. Dotson was second in the 400-meter dash (49.69) and Womack took up runner-up honors in the 1,500-meter run (4:10.64). Also, in the 400-meter run sophomore Cairo Thornton was 11th in 51.83 and in the 1,500-meter run freshman Logan Kelly was eighth (4:21.65). The Lions' 4x400-meter relay was third in a time of 3:22.26.

Junior Dean Laing was fifth in the 110-meter hurdles (15.90), seventh in the long jump (18-8) and 10th in the javelin (135-0). Also in the hurdles, Preston Duncan was fifth in the 400-meter hurdles (59.34) and 10th in the 100-meter hurdles (17.80).

Junior Lyndon Wise was second in the triple jump (46-10).

In the distance events, where the Lions finished fourth in the Lone Star Conference Cross Country Championships, junior Tyler Tyndell led A&M-Commerce with a fourth-place overall finish and second among collegiate competitors in the 5,000-meter run (15:29.93) and sophomore Robert Reed was third among collegiate competitors in a time of 15:44.82.

In the field events, Darron Sheppard was fourth in the discus (150-1) and seventh in the shot put (47-6 ½). Plus, Jeffrey Rayome was eighth in the shot put (45-9 ½) and 10th in the discus (123-0) and in the hammer (103-8).

On the women's side, sophomore Sunny Henderson was third in the 100-meter hurdles (16.44) and senior Andra Bickel and freshman Kate Donovan were fourth (5:29.50) and fifth (5:29.90) in the 1,500-meter run, respectively. Freshman Leslea Traylor was fifth in the 400-meter hurdles (1:16.91). Henderson finished fifth in the javelin with a throw of 115-5.

The Lions had two runners in the top 10 in the 100-meter dash as junior Katie Barthold was seventh (12.79) and Alycea Wallace was ninth (12.98). Freshman Makesha Brewer was eighth in the 400-meter dash (1:09.37)

The 4x100-meter relay team finished second behind Tarleton State in 49.64 and the 4x400-meter relay was third in 4:11.52.

A&M-Commerce was led by its newcomers La'Shara Jefferson and Jessica Brown in the field events. Brown was second in the triple jump (34-4) and sixth in the long jump (15-9). Jefferson was third in the shot put (39-0 ½.) and in the discus (137-7).

Other Lions throwers, junior Britney Fisher was fourth in the discus (126-1) and eighth in the shot put (33-10 ½). Senior Rachel Redding was fourth in the hammer (136-9) and eighth in the discus (112-9). Also in the shot put for A&M-Commerce was Taylor Smith, who was fifth (35-8 ½).

Also in the triple jump, freshman Dena Hawkins was third with a jump of 33-4. Junior Randahl Hickman shared in ninth-place honors in the high jump, clearing 4-8 ½.