KENOSHA, Wis. - Freshman thrower Spencer Touchie of Hometown, Ill., didn't want to leave his first trip to the NAIA National Indoor Championships to chance. After qualifying provisionally in his collegiate debut at the Iowa State Holiday Classic, the emerging shot put standout laid any doubt to rest and smashed his own record with a hurl of 15.59m to punch his ticket to Johnson City, Tenn., in early March.

He threw more than a full meter further than another Spencer (Williams), who competed as alumnae from host Carthage College, to bring home 10 points as Ashford would claim top honors in high jump, shot put, the 4x400-meter relay run and 600-meter run.

Touchie's feat highlighted another strong performance by the Ashford University men's track and field team in the young winter season as it competed at the Carthage Opener in the Tarble Athletic Center on Saturday.

The Saints accumulated 104 points to finish second in the team standings with 16 events scored, trailing only host Carthage College. AU's second meet of the winter featured five other schools, all within Wisconsin.

A total of 10 school records (five men, five women) were re-written by the Saints in a stirring winter debut at the Iowa State Holiday Classic.

Saturday's event was the first meet with newly-appointed Head Coach Chris Adams at the helm of both programs. He is now assisted by Tyson Graham and throws specialist Sheena James in a series of moves announced to begin 2010.

"This is a great meet to have right after a long break," Adams said. "It's a smaller meet with a competitive atmosphere and our athletes took advantage of their opportunities. Spencer's success can be attributed to his personal determination and (assistant coach) Sheena James' attention to detail with all of her athletes."

Cross country NAIA qualifier Andrew Drinkall of Hooppole, Ill., helped the Saints sweep the 600-meter run, joining AU freshman Nkemdilim Okwumabua on the women's side. Drinkall edged out Carthage's Steve Hatchett with a time of 1:25.25 and would also place runner-up in the 800-meter run (1:58.61).

Just like AU women's jumper Heather Ketcham, sophomore A.J. Smith of Port Byron, Ill., tied the top mark in long jump at 1.97 meters. The tiebreaking criteria went further down the list, however, and when total points were added up, Smith was awarded 10 points.

Sophomore Aaron Yerk of Belvidere, Ill., and freshman Shawn Goodhart of Erie, Ill., finished one and two in pole vault. Touchie would also place sixth in weight throw in a pool of 18 individuals.