CENTRAL, S.C. – The Lander track and field teams opened the 2026 outdoor season with several strong performances and multiple school records at the GottaRun Invitational hosted by Southern Wesleyan.

Lander saw several athletes reach the podium during the meet, including Journey Edwards, who finished second in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.67 while setting a new school record.

In the distance events, Carly Fuel placed second in the 1500 meters with a school-record time of 4:54.50. The men also saw a program record fall in the same event as Adam Bedenbaugh set a new Lander mark in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:06.96.

Several field event records also fell for the Bearcats. Yiddisha Lyes broke the program record in the hammer throw, while Darby Ward set a new school mark in the javelin.

Lander also saw strong performances in the sprints. Tymia Willis finished fourth in the 200 meters with a time of 25.75, while teammate Kalyna McLaren placed eighth overall.

On the men's side, Lander posted a number of notable performances. Karson Norman delivered one of the top times of the meet in the 400 meters, running 48.66 to win his section and post one of the top marks in program history.

The Bearcats also earned a podium finish in the men's 4x100-meter relay as the quartet of Pharrell Martinez, Karson Norman, Kendel Rollerson, and Vernon Watson placed third with a time of 42.09.

The Bearcats return to the track this weekend to take part in the John Hunter James Classic hosted by Columbia International