SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Western Michigan track and field team finished day one of competition at the Alex Wilson Invitational on Friday evening with another school record falling as the distance medley relay team crushed its previous school record by nearly 10 seconds.

Freshman Cara Cremeans got the Broncos off to a quick start with a 3:30 split for the lead off leg. From there junior sprinter Victoria Chatman ran a blazing 53.9 second 400 meter split and did a good job of handling a lot of traffic during the hand-off to freshman Rachel Whitley. Whitley ran the 800 meter leg with a split time of 2:15 before handing it off to Jennifer Roberts for the mile anchor leg. Roberts, fresh off her first career Mid-American Conference Title in the 3,000 meter run, ran a time of 4:53 to help shatter the previous school record with a combined time of 11:33.40

"It was an excellent chance for Cara and Rachel to get a taste of national level competition and they responded very well," said head coach Kelly Lycan.

Irene Cooper was just as steady as she has been all season, taking first place with a distance of 65 feet, seven inches.

"Irene is in her rhythm and she did a good job of keeping it," said Lycan. "She still has some things to work on with coach (Bill) Griffey, but we think we can get her throwing 70 feet at the NCAA Championship next weekend."

Also competing was Ashley Hunault in the long jump. Hunault, who won her first career MAC title in the long jump last weekend, took third place with a distance of 19 feet, 4.75 inches. The junior from Alpena, Mich., saw her indoor season come to an end as she was unable to hit a provisional qualifying distance.

"It was a good end to the season for Ashley," commented Lycan. "She was clearly the best long jumper in the MAC and showed it with her MAC title and she established herself as the best indoor long jumper in school history. It was her first experience with a last-chance meet and she'll be in this position again in her career so it was a good experience for her."

The Broncos continue action tomorrow with Roberts running in the 3,000 meter run at 11:30 a.m. and the 4x400 meter relay team of Hunault, Chatman, Leya Munwam and Iris Campbell competing later in the day.