By Rob Schabert, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information

CARBONDALE, Ill. – First she jumped for two records, then she leaped for joy.

Tennessee Tech sophomore Chelsea Mills set two school records Saturday, one in the triple jump and one in the long jump, to lead the Golden Eagle women's track & field team at the Southern Illinois Invitational.

It was the first event of the indoor track season for coach Tony Cox's team, and Mills picked up where she had left off at the end of her freshman season. The second-year speedster from Chattanooga had narrowly missed both records last year during the indoor season.

First, she went 36 feet, 11.5 inches in the triple jump to eclipse the school record by one-half inch. A little later, she cleared 17 feet, 5.5 inches in the long jump to beat the previous standard by three-quarters of an inch.

It was a busy afternoon for Mills, who led Tech in four different events. In addition to the two jump marks, she also had Tech's fastest times Saturday in the 60-meter dash (8.10 seconds) and the 100-meter dash (27.26 seconds).

Elizabeth Mitchell, a junior from Manchester, Tenn., paced Tech in two events. She had the team's best showing in the mile (5:52.63) and 800-meter run (2:44.67).  

Brooklyn Kimball, a junior from Memphis, also posted two of the team's top finishes. She was the team leader in the 400m (1:03.46) and the rarely run 600m (1:57.97).

Tech had four different leaders in the other four events of the day. Lacy Yslas topped the Golden Eagles in the weight throw (39 feet, 2.5 inches), freshman Jaelyn Todd the long throw in the shot put (23 feet, 4.75 inches), freshman Rebecca Duarte the best time in the 60-meter hurdles (10.89 seconds), and Rebecca Cline in the 3,000-meter run (10:5.76).

The team will now take a lengthy break from competition, returning to the track on Jan. 17-18 at the East Tennessee State Invitational.

Weight Throw
Lacy Yslas - 39 feet, 2.5 inches
Jaelyn Todd – 32 feet, 3.5 inches

Triple Jump
Chelsea Mills -36 feet, 11.5 inches (school record)
Atlanta Westbrook – 34 feet, 10.5 inches
Kelli Keck – 34 feet, 7.5 inches

Shot Put
Jaelyn Todd – 23 feet, 4.75 inches

Long Jump
Chelsea Mills – 17 feet, 5.5 inches (school record)
Atlanta Westbrook – 16 feet, 7 inches
Kelli Keck – 16 feet, 3.75 inches
Rebecca Duarte – 15 feet, 11 inches

60 meters
Chelsea Mills – 8.10
Brittany McGee – 8.48

60m hurdles
Rebecca Duarte – 10.89

Mile Run
Elizabeth Mitchell – 5:52.63
Sarah Wilson – 6:11.12

400-meter run
Brooklyn Kimball – 1:03.46
Tiara Hymon – 1:04.40
Brittany Cotto – 1:06.35
Claire Cashin – 1:10.51

600-meter run
Brooklyn Kimball – 1:57.97
Claire Cashin – 2:04.23

200-meter dash
Chelsea Mills – 27.26
Brittany McGee – 28.34
Brittany Cotto – 28.81

800-meter run
Elizabeth Mitchell – 2:44.67
Sarah Wilson – 2:46.65

3,000-meter run
Rebecca Cline – 10:51.76
Emily Williams – 13:39.08