DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Grace College track and field teams got the indoor season started at the Defiance Invitational on Saturday.

“Overall it was a solid start to the season. It’s great to see several NCCAA qualifiers,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “We can now see where our team is at and prepare for the rest of the season.”

In his first collegiate meet, freshman Nigel Ngwenya finished third in the 60-meter race in a time of 7.34 seconds. His 7.29 in the prelims set Grace’s school record.

Lance Taylor won the 400 in 51.90 seconds, and freshman KeJuan Leek was just behind in third place.

Allison Zylstra and Rachel Fehring finished 2-3 in the 800, and Jo Boren and Katelyn McCullough were third and fifth respectively in the 400.

Donovan Graham placed second in the 800, ending in 2:02.38, and he joined Taylor, Nathan Brown and Brendon Lengacher for a third-place finish in the 4×400 relay.

Hunter Reed was eighth in the mile run at 4:55, and Jenna McClellan was fourth in 5:47.

The women’s 4×400 relay team of Jo Boren, Erin Jones, Katelyn McCullough and Alicia Hertzler was second in 4:22.08. The 4×200 squad of Boren, Jones, Lindsey Young and Hertzler finished in 1:52.02, and Jo Boren also had a good showing in the triple jump at 32-feet-0.75.

In other field events, Nathan Brown cleared 6-feet-4 in high jump, and Victoria Gimben was third at 4-7.75. Brown was also strong in the long jump at 20-10.5.

Caleb Sanders tossed a big personal-record of 40-4.25 in the weight throw, just missing the NCCAA qualifying mark, and Erin McPherson’s 42-8.25 was eighth in the women’s weight throw.

The Lancers’ second meet of the season is the Taylor Invitational on Feb. 1.