Howie Ryan Day One Results 

HOUSTON, Texas - In what is as close to a conference championships as they can get, the Lamar men's and women's track teams had some breakthroughs and set themselves up to have a good second day when they competed Friday at the Howie Ryan Invitational hosted at Yeoman Fieldhouse.

Four sprinters moved on to the semifinals that will held on Saturday. Chanissey Fowler qualified in the 60-meter dash on the women's side with a 7.71 mark and Dominique Taylor moved on in the 60-meter hurdles on an 8.75 time.

"Chanissey had a big run today that moved her into fifth place in the Southland Conference," said head coach Trey Clark. "She was one of the people we were looking to make adjustments. She did a great job and it was a big day for her.

Fowler's run was a career personal record and moved her into the semifinals for the first time since the Houston Indoor Opener that started the season. Taylor almost her career PR of 8.72, and now holds three of the top five times in Lamar's history.

Jared Benford and Blake Johnson moved on to the semifinals in the 60-meter dash and 60-meter hurdles, respectively. Benford, who also took eighth in the long jump, qualified on a 6.94 time and Johnson on an 8.42 time.

"Blake made real progress today," said Clark. "He has made a very good transition from the high school level to the college."

Johnson's run was a career best, which was previously set at the UAB Vulcan Invite a week ago. His time sits in the top 10 of the Southland Conference list. Benford's mark in the 60m was also a personal best, as well as his 22'2.85'' jump in the long jump. His 60m time moved him into the top 10 of the league's list.

Sarah Shim finished 11th in the 200-meter dash on a 25.90 time, which is a new personal record, in the first 200m run of her indoor season.

"Sarah put up a good time today," said Clark. "She's had to deal with some injuries, but today she showed some signs of life. She is right where she needs to be."

Saturday's events are set to kick off at 9 o'clock. Sixteen Division I teams will compete, including eight Southland Conference teams.

"This is the last dress rehearsal before the championships," said Clark. "The pressure is exactly what they needed and will be what they face in a couple of weeks."

From the UW Invitational in Seattle, Wash., Alex Dunbar finished in fifth place of the 5000-meter run, and put up a mark of 14:16.58. He was the only competitor for Lamar on the day.

Saturday's events of that competition are set to start at 11:45 CST, and will feature several of Big Red's distance runners.