RICHMOND, Ky. - Coach Rick Erdmann's Eastern Kentucky University men's and women's indoor track teams began the 1999-2000 season with an appearance in the Wildcat Speed Meet held at the University of Kentucky last week.

In the 28-event meet, Eastern was able to place first in three men's events and a like number of women's events in the one-day competition that also included teams from UK, the University of Louisville and Georgia Tech University.

In men's action, Rob Jones was first in the 60-meter hurdles (8.67); David Machungo was first in the mile (4:20.48); and JaiDante Burton won the 400-meter hurdles (48.71) for the Colonels.

Women's team members who took home first places for EKU were Kenyetta Grigsby in the 60-meter hurdles (8.67), Davina McCluney in the 200-meter dash (24.89) and Celestina Ogbolugo in the mile run (5:18.66).

"We were relatively pleased with these performances so early in the indoor schedule," said Erdmann. "We were able to get outside and get some work in on the track with the good weather and that really helped quite a bit."

Other men's highlights included a second place by Burton in the 200-meter dash (22.43), a second place by 1999 EKU cross country All-American James Mutuse in the two-mile run (9:25.68) and the fifth all-time best indoor high jump by an Eastern athlete turned in by Tyrone Walker who leaped 6-6 to finish sixth.

Eastern's women's team had eight second-place finishes at the Wildcat Speed Meet. Freshman Sheri Calhoun led this group of performances by posting the fourth all-time best 400-meter dash (56.95). She also was second in the 200-meter dash (25.74).

Other runnersup finishes for Eastern athletes were Lystra Bartholomew in the 60-meter hurdles (8.80), Pauline Mitchell in the 800-meter run (2:20.79), Jenni Brown in the mile run (5:18.77), Heather Davel in the two-mile run (11:34.45), the 4X400-meter relay team of Renata Simmons, Chanel Hill, McCluney and Calhoun (3:58.46) and McCluney in the 60-meter dash (7.68).

Eastern's next indoor competition is Jan. 15 when both Colonel teams will compete in Lexington at the University of Kentucky Wildcat Invitational.