SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Personal bests from junior Chelsea Lynes and senior Carianna Cottone highlighted Western Illinois' effort on Day Two of the Meyo Invitational while the rest of the Fighting Leathernecks competed at Illinois' Orange & Blue Open Saturday (Feb. 4).

Lynes, who broke the program record in the women's 1,000-meter run Friday night, finished ninth in the 800-meter run Saturday with a personal best time of 2:12.33. Lynes' effort ranks third in The Summit League and second all-time in program history behind Lane Suarez (2:10.16 – 1985).  

Cottone placed 14th in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 10:06.94. The performance easily beats her previous best of 10:24.90 set at Illinois State' Early Bird Open (Dec. 3) and ranks seventh overall in The Summit League. Cottone also entered the program's top ten as her effort ranks sixth fastest all-time. 

Elsewhere, Kirsten Bryant placed 36th in the women's 200-meter dash (25.55), Krystle Eskridge finished 62nd in the 800-meter run (2:20.91) and Amy Byers placed 66th in the 400-meter dash (59.23).  

To cap off the day, Byers, Bryant, Eskridge and Lynes competed in the women's 400-meter relay and placed 16th with a season-best time of 3:55.74. Their performance currently ranks fifth fastest in The Summit League.  

Illinois Orange & Blue Open 

Western Illinois picked up three victories at the Orange & Blue Open, including season-bests from junior Jeffrey Wooldridge (800-meter run) and senior Dana LaRue (shot put). Overall, the Fighting Leathernecks collected 12 top-five finishes inside the UI Armory. 

LaRue's shot put victory is her first win of the 2011-12 indoor season. Her toss of 48-02.50 currently ranks second overall in The Summit League and 80th nationally.  

Wooldridge's first 800-meter run competition as a Fighting Leatherneck resulted in his first career victory. The transfer from Lincoln College posted a Western Illinois season-best time of 1:58.71 in the win.

Junior Jamario Taylor picked up his fourth men's high jump victory this season by clearing a height of 6-10.25. Taylor, who owns six career high jump wins, ranks first in The Summit League and 42nd in the nation with his season-best performance (6-11.75) at Illinois State's Redbird Open.  

Senior Paul Hames used a personal best throw of 51-09.25 to finish fifth in the men's shot put competition. His performance currently ranks fifth best in The Summit League.  

Senior Lizzy Jones placed third in the women's weight throw with a personal best toss of 54-01.25. Her effort ranks sixth overall in The Summit League and eighth farthest in program history.  

The men's 4x400-meter relay squad posted a season-best time of 3:24.89 and placed fifth overall. Michael Hemming, Jeffrey Liles, Matt Leal and Jordan Liles now own The Summit League's sixth fastest performance.

Western Illinois is back in action next weekend when a dozen Fighting Leathernecks travel to Ames, Iowa to compete in the Iowa State Classic. The meet gets underway at 11 a.m. on Friday (Feb. 10) and will run through Saturday (Feb. 11). The remaining Leathernecks will compete at Monmouth College Saturday.

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