HICKORY, N.C. – In the outdoor season-opening LR Bears Open on Saturday, the Newberry College track and field team started the season with a high level of success that included three winners, three second-place finishers and two third-place results.

Winning the men's discus event with a personal best throw was Kegan Crowell with a throw of 50.66 meters (166 feet, 2 inches). He beat the field by 5 feet, 5 inches. Crowell also placed second in the hammer throw at 49.53 meters (162 feet, 6 inches). Parker Pitts (45.51 meters) and Sean Price (44.80 meters) were fourth and fifth in the hammer throw. Price was also third in the javelin throw (51.20 meters).

Irma Watson-Peréz's 39.39-meter discus throw (129 feet, 3 inches) won the women's discus competition by 8 feet, 5 inches. Leonie Samuels (33.77 meters) was fourth in addition to grabbing second place in shotput with a 12.61-meter heave (41 feet, 4 ½ inches). Samuels only lost by 2.5 inches to the winner.

Andrea Pascual Rivera took home second in the hammer throw at 49.04 meters (160 feet, 11 inches).

Moving over to the track side of things, freshman Tyler Shumate secured his first collegiate win with a career best effort in the 800m dash in 1:58.21.

Justin Canty wound up third in the 400m dash with a new PR (49.59 seconds).

Track and field returns to action this upcoming Friday and Saturday (March 22 and 23) at the Weems Baskin Invitational in Columbia.