(Conway, S.C.) The Cornerstone University Men's Track & Field team capitalized on the fitness that carried them to eighth at the NAIA Indoor National Championships and used it to earn three qualifiers for outdoor nationals at the Coastal Carolina Invitational.

On Friday, CU athletes started and finished the day with good performances. Joel Leong took seventh in the hammer throw. His mark of 174' 8" was more than eight feet beyond the NAIA qualifying standard. Zach Ripley won the 10,000 meters by nearly 50 seconds in 31:51.87, earning a provisional qualifying mark. Stephan Larson took fifth in 33:32.77 and freshman Cody Risch ran his first collegiate 25 lap event in 34:55.61, placing 14^th.

Saturday, Cornerstone competed well in the 35-team field.

Leong took sixth in the discus with a throw of 150' 1". Jacob Erickson finished fifth in the 400 meters in 49.32 with Zach Yeo eighth in 49.44. Yeo also placed 15^th in 100 meters, running 11.10. Kurtis Koffkey was ninth in the 400 meter hurdles with a great early season mark of 55.61. Freshman, Jeff Burd opened his outdoor collegiate career with a fine 22.26 clocking in the 200 meters for 12^th place.

The top finish of the day came from Alex Green who took second in the steeplechase. His time of 9:19.73 was ten seconds under the NAIA automatic standard. Peter Kaijala was 11^th in 10:12.44.

The 4x4 relay of Koffkey, Yeo, Burd and Erickson closed out the meet taking fifth in 3:20.92.