Freshman Florida distance runner Genevieve LaCaze (Queensland, Australia) set a new freshman school record in the women’s 1,500-meter run Friday to highlight a successful opening day of the War Eagle Invitational hosted by Auburn University at its Hutsell-Rosen Track.

LaCaze, who was named the Southeastern Conference Female Freshman of the Week on April 7 after a remarkable performance at the Pepsi Florida Relays, broke her own freshman school record Friday, to capture the women’s 1,500-meter run in an NCAA regional-qualifying time of 4:20.90. That bested her previous personal-record time of 4:22.18, set on April 3 in the Florida Relays.

“I thought Genevieve did a great job today with a two-second PR that puts her into the top-10 in the country in that event,” Florida head coach Mike Holloway said. “I think she did a wonderful job and that is just an indication of the hard work she is putting in everyday in practice with Coach [Todd] Morgan. This gives us some momentum heading into tomorrow and I hope that everyone has that same mindset that we are here to get some work done this weekend.”

Freshman thrower Fidela James (Jacksonville, Fla.) continued her strong performances in the women’s hammer throw, finishing fifth with a toss of 152-11/46.60m.

Distance runner Sean Blaney (Kissimmee, Fla.) was eighth in the men’s 1,500-meter run in a time of 3:52.74.

The final day of the War Eagle Invitational commences at 11:30 a.m. EST Saturday at Hutsell-Rosen Track. Live results will be available at: http://www.deltatiming.com/results/meet.aspx?yf=2009&mf=war_eagle

The University of Florida is home of the 2009 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. For all of the latest information on Gator Track and Field, log on to www.GatorZone.com.

War Eagle Invitational (Friday-Saturday, April 17-18, 2009) – Auburn, Ala.

FRIDAY, APRIL 17

Women’s Hammer Throw – 5 p.m. EST (RQS: 54.15m)

5. Fidela James – 152-11/46.60m

Women’s 1,500m Run (Invitational) – 8:15 p.m. EST (RQS: 4:27.80)

1. Genevieve LaCaze – 4:20.90 R

Men’s 1,500m Run (Invitational) – 8:15 p.m. EST (RQS: 3:47.80)

8. Sean Blaney – 3:52.74

END OF REPORT