RALEIGH, N.C. -- Western Michigan track and field's 4x200 and 4x400-meter relay squads both placed in the top eight as the Broncos wrapped up the 2014 Raleigh Relays at North Carolina State on Saturday evening.

Andrea Arnold, Kathryn Pickett, Alexis Hull and Aisha Hodge opened up the season with a time of 3:45.14 to take eighth overall and sixth in their heat of the 4x400. Arnold and Pickett combined to get WMU into second place heading into the third leg but the Broncos were eventually overcome during the final two legs.

"This was a very typical first outdoor meet," said head coach Kelly Lycan. "We had some great efforts but it wasn't always a thing of beauty. We had some freshmen out there that got some great experience, specially in the relays."

Two of those freshmen, Sarita Dotson and Naiomi Dulaney, combined with Arnold and Pickett to take eighth in the 4x200 with a time of 1:39.94. For the senior Arnold it was a strong opening weekend after also taking eighth on Friday in the 400-meter dash.

WMU started off the day well after Ann Marie Arseneau opened up the day taking second in the 10k with a time of 37:09.64. Freshman Daya Wagh was just behind her in sixth place with a time of 38:37.64.

Senior Aisha Hodge hit the 2:10 mark in her first outdoor 800-meter run with a time of 2:10.33 and a seventh place finish.

Senior Stephanie Negrete highlighted the field events for WMU with a sixth place finish in the discus with a throw of 47.41m (155-06). Andrea Hiler took ninth overall with a distance of 45.68m (149-10). Senior Chiara Allen broke 39 feet in her first triple jump of the season, reaching 11.95m (39-02.50) in a loaded field that included 14 athletes reaching at least 39 feet. '

The Broncos head to Eastern Illinois University for the EIU Big Blue Classic next weekend.