The Emory University Eagles competed in the first of three separate meets this weekend on Friday, and improved on a number of their NCAA qualifying marks at the Dr. Keeler Invitational, hosted by North Central College in Naperville, Illinois.

Senior Meredith Lorch continued to climb the national rankings in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, recording a career-best time of 11:01.07 and placing sixth in the event.  The time ranks as the 22^nd-fastest in Division III this season, with the top-22 times qualifying for the NCAA Championships.  It also ranks as the fifth-fastest time in school history, with the top-four times in the program's record book each being recorded by former Eagle Sarah Byrd.

In the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase, freshman Christian Johnson finished 15^th with a season-best time of 9:29.70, the ninth-fastest in school history.

The Emory's women's 4x100-meter relay team finished in the event at the meet, as freshman Harley Barrera, junior Electra Korn, senior Morgan Monroe and junior Debora Adjibaba recorded a time of 47.58 seconds, ranking fifth among Division III teams this year.

Adjibaba also won the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.41 seconds and claimed fifth in the 200-meter dash with a mark of 25.12 seconds.  Korn finished just ahead of Adjibaba in the 200-meter dash, placing fourth with a mark of 25.11 seconds, and also finished sixth in the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1:03.48.  Other top finishers for the Eagles included Monroe in the 100-meter hurdles (sixth, 15.06 seconds), freshman Julie Williamson in the 800-meter run (10^th, 2:16.52), and junior Stephanie Crane in the 1,500-meter run (16^th, 4:46.32).

Emory will continue its busy weekend on Saturday, May 10^th, with a contingent of athletes headed to Athens, Georgia for the University of Georgia Invitational.