The Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers track and field team opened their season Saturday in the Susan Rouse Invitational at Southern Wesleyan University in Central, S.C.

Head Coach Pamela Page's young squad garnered seven top-five finishes in what was one of the first – or the first – collegiate meets for a number of her athletes.

"We have a starting point now," Page said.  "This is our fifth meet in two years, so we finally have a starting point.  It was the first collegiate meet for nearly half of the team.  They performed up to the best that they could."

There were a number of top-5 finishes and top-10 finishes among the Lady Panthers.

Maliyah White was second in the high jump, sixth in the triple jump, and ninth in the long jump.  Naomi Andrews was fourth in the high jump, eighth in the long jump, and 19^th in the 800-meters (2:57.15).  Amethyst Massaquoi finished seventh in the 400-meter hurdles and ninth in the 100-meters (13.51). Acacia Lofton was fifth in the high jump and 11^th in the 400-meters (1:05.57).

The Lady Panthers' A team was fourth in the 4x400-meter relay, while the B team was eighth in the 4x400-meter relay. CAU's A squad was fifth in the 4x100-meter relay, while the B team finished sixth.

Miracle Smith was fifth in the 1500-meters (5:49.85) and 16^th in the 800-meters (2.47.52). Kayla Partee was ninth in the 1500-meters (6:26.73) and 18^th in the 800-meters (2:55.79).  Jayla Hartley-Scott was seventh in the 400-meters (1:03.92) and 18^th in the 200-meters (28.46), while Aria Allen was tenth in the 1500-meters (7:01.32) and 18^th in the 800-meters (3:20.57).

Kaylin Strahan finished seventh in the 100-meters (13.14) and 10^th in the 200-meters (27.30).  London Lee was 13^th in the 400-meters (1:06.19) and 20^th in the 200-meters (28.65).  Cianna Jobe was 22^nd in the 200-meters (29.68). Quonee Bercy was seventh in the triple jump and 15^th in the 100-meters (14.99).

Nikiyja Carter had a strong showing in the field events as she was finished fifth in the hammer throw, eighth in the shot put, 12^th in the javelin, and 17^th in the discus.  Leah Mitchell was 12^th in the hammer throw, 16^th in the shot put, 21^st in the javelin, and 23^rd in the discus. 

The Lady Panthers are back in action Friday and Saturday, March 11 and 12 in the Gem of the Hills Classic hosted by Jacksonville State University in Oxford, Ala. 

Buoyed by their showing this past weekend, the Lady Panthers have already been out on the track getting ready for next weekend's meet, even though they were scheduled to have a break from practice.  That kind of commitment has Page looking forward to how the season looks to progress for her team.

"I am very optimistic," Page said.  "We got our first meet jitters out.  And each meet we will be more and more competitive."