YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Kirsten Evans' top-six finish and Amanda Salmons' personal best time in the 1,000 meter run proved to be the leading contributors for the Shawnee State women's track and field program among the women's distance runners that ran on the opening day of the Youngstown State Mid-Major Invitational, which was held at the Watson and Tressel Training Site in Youngstown, Ohio.

Evans and Salmons, who each represented Shawnee State in the 1,000 meter run, finished sixth and ninth in the event, respectively. Evans ran a 3:18.04 while Salmons notched a 3:23.74 -- the latter of which proved to be a personal best.

Elizabeth Middleton and Sydney Reed also represented the Bears in the 5,000 meter run to boot -- with Middleton's 14th place time of 19:57.43 and Reed's 20th place run of 20:42.45 rounding out the efforts on the opening day of competition. Middleton's time in the 5,000 marked her first sub-20 minute mark at the collegiate level.

Each of the four distance runners will represent Shawnee State in action on the second day of the Youngstown State Mid-Major Invitational.