SAN MARCOS, Texas—Five Northwestern State track & field athletes earn personal bests on the first day of the Bobcat Invitational on Thursday at the Texas State University Track and Field Complex.

Dynia Lewis (women's 200), William Achee (men's 200), Vincente Graiani (men's 200), Garrett Graves (men's javelin) and Cherie Neal (women's heptathlon 100-meter hurdles) all posted personal bests, or in Graiani's case, outdoor personal best, to lead the way for Northwestern State.

"It was a good day," head coach Mike Heimerman said. "The weather did not help, as it rained for almost all the events. The 200 and javelin might have been the only two events where it didn't rain. I was proud of how our athletes competed in the rain and, for the most part, did not let it bother them too much—at least effort-wise. It will be another rainy day tomorrow, but we will be ready to compete."

Achee, a freshman from Bossier City, continued a sensational rookie campaign with a personal-best 21.52 in the men's 200-meter dash to finish eighth out of 42 competitors.

He wasn't the only personal best in that event, as Graiani scored an outdoor personal best by running a 21.78 to finish 24th. While it wasn't a personal best, Tavis Wilson clocked a 21.54 to finish 10th.
On the women's side in the 200-meter dash, Lewis ran a 24.82, which tied a personal best to finish 14^th.

Freshman Jayla Mason (25.14) placed 26th while Sileena Farrell (25.91) came in 43rd.

Neal began the women's heptathlon with a personal-best 15.14 in the 100-meter hurdles.

Unfortunately, neither Neal or Raven-Symone Jarrett were able to finish the heptathlon.

Finally, to finish the night for the Demons, Graves posted a big personal-best in the men's javelin, tossing a 196-4 to place fourth in the event and moves him up to fifth in the Southland Conference this outdoor season.

Of the 19 competitors in the men's javelin, three Demons finished in the top 10, led by Graves, who beat his previous best by nearly nine feet.

Joseph Yount (183-3) placed ninth and Maddox Reine (168-5) placed 10^th. Bruce Boon tossed a 143-9 to finish 15^th.

In the other throws events, Abner Johnson tossed a 143-08 to place 13^th in the men's discus section B.

On the women's side, Shanice Hutson threw a 124-09 to finish 14^th in the event.

In the distance events, Korbin Shumate ran a 1:56.98 in the men's 800-meter run, which placed him 33^rd out of 59 finishers.

Running unattached, John Klein placed second in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase, running a 9:32.47.

The Northwestern State track & field teams are back in action for day two of both the Bobcat Invitational and Texas Relays on Friday. The day at both meets start for Northwestern State at 10 a.m., as Elijah Rowe and the men's long jump kicks off the day at the Texas Relays and Tahisha Thompson with the women's hammer starts it off at the Bobcat Invitational.