MACOMB, Ill. - Alongside athletes from the NCAA and NAIA, the Ashford University men's track and field program hit the track at Western Illinois University over the weekend for the 21st annual Lee Calhoun Invitational.

Freshman Christian ‘Ed' Awah of Willow Springs, Ill., qualified for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 110 and 400-meter hurdles events, and the Saints took 11th place overall for the event, which was won by Eastern Illinois University.

In the 110-meter hurdles, Awah blazed the track in a school record time of 14.83, which was good for fourth place. Even more impressive was that Awah's time automatically qualified him in the event at the NAIA national meet, the first Saint to do so during the outdoor season.

Prior to the Lee Calhoun Invite, Awah had provisionally qualified for the event after his performance at the Viking Olympics on March 27.

And he wasn't done just yet.

In the 400-meter hurdle race, Awah gathered eighth-place honors after finishing with a time of 54.96, provisionally qualifying him in that event as well.

The time broke senior NAIA qualifier Franklin Barnes' of Chicago previous record in the event, which stood at 55.00.

In the 1,000-meter run, freshman Mizael Carerra of Franklin Park, Ill., enjoyed an eighth-place finish after running for 35:44.09 en route to collecting a point towards Ashford total for the meet.

In the sprinting events, sophomore Austin Gilbert of Peoria, Ill., took 18th in the 100-meter dash, crossing the line in 11.03 seconds.

Gilbert and senior Caleb Snyder of Winnebago, Ill., hit the track again for the 200-meter dash, where they finished 20th and 38th, respectively. Gilbert finished with a time of 22.88 while Snyder completed the half-lap race in 24.06.

Snyder leaped 5.89 meters (19') in the long jump, capturing 22nd overall.

Freshmen Patrick McClain of Gary, Ind., and Ray Rivera of Franklin Park, Ill., took the track for the 800-meter run, where McClain bested his teammate by a second, finishing in 32nd place with a time of 2:06.49. Rivera finished in 34th after a time of 2:07.95.

The men's 4x200-meter relay team comprised of Awah, Gilbert, sophomore Ademola Are of Hazel Crest, Ill., and junior Andrew Drinkall of Hooppole, Ill., finished in third place with a time of 1:29.

After clearing 1.88 meters (6'2") sophomore A.J. Smith of Port Byron, Ill., finished in ninth place in the high jump.

Smith also took eighth place in the javelin throw, tossing the spear-like object 46.66 meters (153'11").

Senior Brian Cummings of Clinton took 16th place in the javelin after a toss of 39.67 meters (130'2").

In the shot put, freshman Jaryd Prince of Clinton, Iowa took 12th place honors after a toss of 13.69 meters (44'11").

Freshman Joe Snyder of Winnebago, Ill., took 22nd place in the discus throw after throwing the discus 40.31 meters (132'3").

The Saints travel to Lisle, Ill. for the Eagle Invitational next weekend, hosted by Benedictine University.