(LEBANON, Ill., May 16) – The McKendree University track and field teams returned to action Saturday night at Emporia State University with a handful of athletes looking to improve their times and marks in preparation for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships.

The Bearcats sent seven athletes to Emporia, KS including five from the men's team and two from the women's.

Junior Donovan Friscia (Jacksonville, FL/Bartram Trail) led the way taking home a first place finish with a time of 10.63 seconds. Freshman Tyler Johnson (South Holland, IL/St. Rita) placed sixth in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 56.78 seconds.

In the field sophomore Alex McCrite (Tamms, IL/Egyptian) hit a mark of 1.95-meters, which was good enough for fourth place.

Sophomore Ryan Pearce (Villa Grove, IL/Villa Grove) landed a pair of top five finishes starting in the shot put after his throw of 16.76-meters hit a provisional standard landed a fifth place finish. Pearce also took fourth in the discus with a toss of 48.54-meters. Freshman Chase Hagene (Nashville, IL/Nashville) finished sixth in the discus with a mark of 43.17-meters.

On the women's side junior Melissa Calcara put in a time of 14.41 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles finishing third.

In the field sophomore Ciara Jones took third in the triple jump with a distance of 11.17-meters. She was joined by fellow sophomore Rebecca McKee who took home a ninth place showing after a jump of 10.07-meters.

McKendree will return to action May 26-28 at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships in Bradenton, FL.