ANDERSON, S.C. - The men's track and field team left the Electric City Invite on Saturday with multiple podium finishes and personal records. The competition put them in a good place to head into championship meets in the coming weeks. 

Dario Laing placed first in the 400m hurdles (53.94 NAIA 'B', PR) and third in the 100m hurdles (16.17). Four runners competed in the 200m: Clayton Hammond (23.13), Denim Jones (23.83), Julian Carranza (24.31), and Kevin Cunningham (24.47). 

Hammond placed 11th in the 400m, with a season-best time of 50.26. Jones checked in at 53.03, while Malik Beaver hit a personal record with 53.87. Carranza (54.28, PR), Cunningham (54.85), and Spencer Evans (54.99) rounded out the competition. 

Joel Baumgarten (11:08.42) placed eighth in the 3000m steeple, while Landon Battermann (11:32.90) placed tenth. Joey Canning represented the squad in the 5000m with a time of 17:24.17. 

Jones, Beaver, Hammond, and Laing competed in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:30.57. 

Deandre Leith continues his impressive senior season with a first-place finish in the discus throw (49.93m, NAIA 'A'). Cameron Montgomery hit a personal record at 37.44m, and Bryce Scarborough reached a distance of 33.44m. 

Leith also placed first in the shot put (17.20, NAIA 'A'), while Montgomery came in second (16.46, PR, NAIA 'A'). Colton Buchanan hit 10.83m, while Scarborough checked in at 10.75m. Branson Rimmer recorded a season-best in the pole vault at 3.95m (NCCAA). 

What Coach John Sparks is saying, "This was a great meet to prepare us for the AAC outdoor championships. We had several more school records and NAIA qualifiers. Our goal is to peak at this time, and that appears to be happening. "

Up Next: The Rams are gearing up for the AAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships at their home track next week, April 18-20.