ALBUQUERQUE, N.M./AMES, Iowa -- In the past, New Mexico has been a hot spot for several Arizona State track and field athletes to bring out a faster, stronger Sun Devil.
If day one of the Don Kirby Elite Invitational showed us anything, it's that nothing has changed and Albuquerque is good for breaking something other than just bad.
The Sun Devils set eight new personal records -- along with three more by the distance team at Iowa State -- several season bests, and qualifying times for the semifinals on Saturday in the 60-meter dash and hurdle events.
"Overall it was a solid day," said track and field head coach Greg Kraft. "Obviously we want to get some significant things done tomorrow."
Redshirt senior Isaiah Underwood set a new personal best in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.71, as he won his preliminary heat to move onto the semifinals on Saturday.
His teammates, graduate senior Reggie Lewis and senior Jamol James, also qualified for the semifinal event with times of 6.77 and 6.79 respectively. The event was James' first competition of the season after returning from injury.
"It was good to see Jamol come out here and for him to open up at 6.7 is a great start for him," head coach Greg Kraft said. "He's been a little dinged up so that was great to see.
"Reggie Lewis continues to take a step forward in the 60 and 200, and Isaiah continues to get better in both as well, so that was very good for us."
On the women's side, senior Jasmine Gibbs won the 12th heat of the women's 60-meter dash with a time of 7.57 to advance to the semifinals on Saturday. It was also the 12th best time of the entire 81-woman preliminary.
The women's longest event of the day -- the 200-meter dash -- saw all four women set new personal records, including LaTroya Franklin, Melese Crozier, Jasmine Gibbs and Sierra Irvin. Franklin's time of 23.80 was good enough to earn her eighth place out of 89 competitors.
"It was good to see LaTroya Franklin finally get under 24 seconds in the women's 200-meter indoors," said Kraft.
"However, probably the performance of the day for us was Chelsey Totten running 9:22.86 in the 3,000-meter up at Iowa State. That was a significant step for her."
All distance coach Louie Quintana asked for was hoping she would run under 9:35.00, and Totten not only blew that expectation away but also her old record by nearly 14 seconds.
"Chelsey was great," Quintana said. "It's the fifth-fastest time in school history and probably top 25 in the NCAA."
Freshman Sydney Mosley just missed hitting her personal-best mark of 8.46 by .03 seconds in the women's 60-meter hurdles, taking second place and qualifying for the semifinals on Saturday as well. Her time of 8.49 qualified 13th out of 65 competitors.
In the field events, redshirt sophomore Magdalyn Ewen and redshirt junior Ashley Weber both advanced from the second heat into the women's weight throw finals. Ewen finished in third with a best throw of 19.23m (63-01.25).
Freshman thrower Ginger Jarchow set a new personal record in the weight throw by nearly six inches with a throw of 16.46m (54-0.00).
Day one for the men featured redshirt junior Kyle Long in the men's weight throw and he didn't disappoint, taking home second place with a new personal best of 18.45m (60-06.50) on his final throw.
Back in Ames, Iowa, redshirt junior C.J. Albertson and senior Riley Wattier also one-upped their old records in the men's 3,000-meter. Albertson crossed the line at 8:08.91 for second place in section 3, while Wattier knocked off 14 seconds off his old personal best with a time of 8:28.38.
Also in the group was redshirt senior Daniel Wong, who competed in his first event of 2015-16 after sitting out the cross country season due to injury.
"It was good having him compete again after his broken ankle suffered in the fall," Quintana said. "He will continue to progress and get much better. He's just getting his racing legs back."
Don Kirby Elite Invitational Feb. 12-13 Albuquerque, NMFRIDAY
Field Events
Women's Weight Throw
3. Madalyn Ewen - 19.23m (63-01.25)
8. Ashley Weber - 17.95m (58-10.75)
17. Ginger Jarchow - 16.46m (54-0.00)
Men's Weight Throw
2. Kyle Long - 18.45m (60-06.50)
Track Events
Women's 60mH Prelims
13. Sydney Mosley - 8.49 (Q)
40. Alexandra Williams - 8.92
Men's 60m Dash Prelims
5. Isaiah Underwood - 6.71 (Q)
11. Reggie Lewis - 6.77 (Q)
14. Jamol James - 6.79 (Q)
Women's 60m Dash Prelims
12. Jasmine Gibbs - 7.57 (Q)
Women's 200m Dash
8. LaTroya Franklin - 23.80
32. Jasmine Gibbs - 24.67
44. Sierra Irvin - 25.04
57. Melese Crozier - 25.55
Men's 200m Dash
7. Isaiah Underwood - 21.43
13. Reggie Lewis - 21.59
Men's High Jump
19. Reed Bussey - 1.93m (6-04.00)
19. Mason Ford - 1.93m (6-04.00)
Iowa State Classic Feb. 12-13 Ames, IowaFRIDAY
Women's 3K
8. Chelsey Totten - 9:22.86
32. Shaina Corbin - 9:55.88
Women's 5K
24. Adriana Olivas - 16:38.90
Men's 3K
24. C.J. Albertson - 8:08.91
50. Ryan Herson - 8:24.52
54. Riley Wattier - 8:28.38
58. Daniel Wong - 8:37.71