EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - The University of Tennessee at Martin cross country teams closed out their 2010 track schedule this weekend with a slew of outstanding performances at the SIU Edwardsville Twilight Invitational Open at Ralph Korte Stadium in the face of the thunderstorms that hit most of the Midwest.

The Skyhawks were just starting to roll when the severe weather warnings emptied the stands to the interior shelter of Korte Stadium. The weather passed by after a 90-minute delay, but the second half of the competition was under steady winds and rain.

However, before the inclement weather hit, Allen Thurman continued his monster spring track season. He broke his third all-time UT Martin record with a 4:05.21 time in the 1500 meter run. Tallon Scott also competed in the event for the Skyhawks, finishing with a strong time of 4:20.63.

Five Skyhawks took part in the 5000 meter run, led by Jimmy Watkins-Lynch's time of 16:26.76. Tyler Holmes was right behind him with a final time of 16:54.11, while Benji Sparks (17:47.27), Trevor Hancock (17:59.47) and Cody Lemmons (18:01.94) finished in consecutive slots for UT Martin. Hancock also participated in the 800 meter run, making short work of the competition with a time of 2:07.60.

Senior Shannon Wall paced four UT Martin runners in the 5000 meter run, finishing in third place with a time of 19:41.70. Kaitlin Saunders (20:27.17) and Emily Jones (20:28.92) placed in back-to-back slots, and Laura Wind rounded out the Skyhawk field with a time of 21:44.14. Ellie Luze was the lone Skyhawk to compete in the 3000 mater run, as she finished with a time of 11:26.42.

All in all, it was one of the most successful track seasons in head coach Gordon Sanders' tenure, although the season did end with the weather preventing the team from setting more school records.

"Allen took advantage of the perfect conditions by storming to another school record," Sanders said. "After excellent conditions all season to support our many university and personal records, we were disappointed to be washed out."

#SKYHAWKS#



RECORDS WERE MADE TO BE BROKEN: After breaking the school's steeplechase all-time mark twice this spring, junior Allen Thurman broke the UT Martin record in the 1500 meter run at the SIU Edwardsville Twilight Invitational Open on Saturday (Photo courtesy of Sam Jordan/Tennessee State Athletics)