Orlando, Fla. (March 5, 2006) - The ETSU track & field team opened its outdoor season Saturday afternoon, with its sprinters and distance runners turning in solid performances at the UCF Invitational in Orlando, Florida.

The Bucs posted 14 top-five finishes at the UCF Invitational, as sophomore MacKenzie LaBonte (Port Charlotte, Fla.) finished first in the 3000 meter run in 10:57.30.

In the sprints, junior Anna Marie Ricciardi (Canfield, Ohio) finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles in 16.72.  Junior Johnny Tucker (Spartanburg, S.C.) had a successful day finishing second in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes 11.17 and 22.61 respectively. Tyler Woodruff (Sevierville, Tenn.) finished second in the 400-meter dash in 51.11.

In distance events, junior Josh Hicks (Riceville, Tenn.) was the Bucs top finisher in the 800-meters finishing second in 1:57.10 and the 1500-meters, and second in 3.59.70.  Freshman David McDaniel (Watauga, Tenn.) crossed the finish line in the 800-meters in 2:03.01 for a fifth place finish. In the 5000-meter run sophomore Jordan Ladd (Lyn, Ontario) finished third in 15:32.31 and freshman Michael Deren (Blesdell, N.Y.) finished fourth in 15:37.01.

The Buccaneers are back in action March 11^th at the NCAA Indoor Nationals in Fayetteville, Ark.