CHAPEL HILL, N.C – Three Charleston Southern Buccaneers won individual events and the Bucs' 4x400 relay teams finished first and second in the field as the Bucs started the 2014 season with an excellent performance at the Joe Hilton Invitational on Saturday.

LaQuestis Scott captured the 400M title, Mary Elliott won the 800M, and Talei Tagivakatini came out on top in the weight throw to highlight the day individually for CSU. 

Elliott set a new CSU record running a 2:17.82 to win the 800M. Her time is also the best mark in the Big South for the season to date.

The Bucs' 4x400 relay team dominated the event, as their A group bested the B group by 11 seconds to finish first and second respectively. Scott, Elliott, Amanda Trapp and Danielle Burnett teamed on the A group for a 3:57.02 time to secure the win. Hannah Palm, Rashida Dooling, Kolisha Coleman and Tanazia Owens ran as CSU's B group, and finished in 4:08.26.

Scott also established a personal indoor best in her 400M victory with a time of 58.77. Burnett performed well in her collegiate debut as a freshman, placing third in the event.

Palm earned a second place showing in the 800 meters, finishing about nine seconds behind Elliot.

Tagivakatini, meanwhile, recorded a meter personal record with a distance of 15.90 in the weight throw. The Bucs' throwers came out of the gates with a strong showing, as Joshlyn Noga finished third in the shot put and fourth in the weight throw.

Dooling, one of the Bucs' key returners from last season, also got her season off and running on a positive note. The junior set a personal record in the 60 meter hurdles, running 8.72 to finish only .04 seconds off the top spot.

Other strong outings for CSU in its opening event included third and fourth place finishes from Trapp and Coleman in the 200M. Freshman Ariel Walker showed her promise with a second place standing in the triple jump, and transfer Rachel Lees opened up her CSU career with a high jump of 1.60 meters to take second place. Senior Jessie Dotson followed up on a strong cross country season with a good performance in the mile, running 5:15.91 to place third.

CSU returns to Chapel Hill next weekend when it competes in the Tar Heel Open. The Bucs will compete in four more events leading up to the Big South Conference Championships in Blacksburg, Va. February 28-March 1.

-CSU-