The key to winning a race is a solid start out of the blocks, and both the men and women’s track and field teams have begun the season on a high note.

Last week against Wyoming, the men’s team took first and the women took second. Over the weekend at the Air Force Invitational, the teams flip-flopped; the women scored 113.5 points, 13.5 more than BYU to take first place. The men took second with 127 points, 21 points behind the first-place Colorado Buffaloes.

A young crop of talent is largely responsible for the women’s team victory; freshman Aaliyah Pete finished first in the shot put, besting second-place teammate Jessica Sharbono by 2.5 inches.

Freshman Lorenda Holston came up big in the 60-meter sprint with a career-best 7.55 seconds to take first place in the preliminary round. She came in second in the finals. Senior Amy Medina tied with Falcon Rachel Herald for first place in the high jump with a mark of 5-7, tying her career best.

“That is a big win for our women,” head coach Brian Bedard said. “Some of our freshman came up big; overall it was a great effort.”

The men made waves as well with senior Trevor Brown, who was the top collegiate finisher in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8 seconds flat. Teammate Sam Little took third place, clocking in at 8.19 seconds.

The men’s 1600-meter relay team, made up of Little, Brown, Kordell Deffbaugh and Zach Browning also took first. Bedard was pleased with the men’s overall performance.

“We left some key distance guys at home that cost us the meet,” Bedard said. “But it was a good met in all event areas for the men.”