SAN ANTONIO – Junior T'Mond Johnson opened the outdoor season with a bang when he broke the Texas State school record in the shot put at the Roadrunner Invitational held at the Park West Athletic Complex. His performance was one of 28 top 10 Sun Belt Conference marks by the Bobcats at the meet.
 
Johnson headed into his third attempt in the shot put sitting in second place before uncorking a toss of 19.29m to break the school record and move into first place. He topped his mark on his final attempt of the day when he unleashed the shot and it flew 19.59m (64-3.25). The distance is the best in the SBC by nearly 10 feet and ranks third in the nation.
 
Along with his shot put performance, Johnson has the fourth best discus throw of the year in the conference at 50.08m (164-4). Joining him in the discus rankings is Bobby Smith in third with a toss of 52.08m (170-10).
 
Tramesha Hardy was the only other Texas State athlete to add her name to the program's record book. She took first in the 400m in 54.16, the fastest time in the SBC by almost a second and a half.
 
In the men's 400m, De'Marcus Porter completed the race in a conference leading 47.50. Matthew Parker (48.46) and Kelson Pierre (48.72) are seventh and 10^th, respectively, in the Sun Belt.
 
Also ending the meet with the best mark in the conference for the men was Alvin Chikaeze in the triple jump. His best leap came on his opening attempt at 15.11m (49-7).
 
Other top SBC times on the track for the women were recorded by Esther Oyetunde, Sydni Willis and the 4x400m relay team. Oyetunde ran a 2:10.60 in the 800m, over three seconds fastest than second place in the league, and Willis completed the 400m hurdles race in 59.75. The foursome of DeAihja Hicks-Boyce, Tramesha Hardy, Oyetunde and Willis combined to cross the finish line in 3:41.87 for the mile relay.
 
Naomi Ferdinand took second in the long jump with a distance of 6.00m (19-8.25). Her leap is the best in the SBC over two jumpers from UTA.
 
Posting the second best times in the conference were the women's 4x100m and the men's 4x400m relays. Crossing the finish line in 46.01 was the squad of Kaylee Krenek, Tramesha Hardy, Javlyn Cameron and DeAijha Hicks-Boyce. The men's group of Porter, Jaylen Allen, Christopher Green and Pierre finished the mile relay in 3:15.92.
 
Carlos Wilson recorded two top SBC marks with one each coming on the track and in the field. The freshman ran a 10.58 in the 100m, seventh best in the league, and leapt 7.12m (23-4.5) in the long jump to rank third in the SBC. Adding the No. 5 long jump for all Sun Belt leapers was Ben Collerton at 7.06m (23-2).
 
Joseph Meade completed the 1500m in a personal best 4:00.13 to rank third in the conference.
 
Another standout for the men on the track was Jaylen Allen. The freshman ran a 21.16 in the 200m to place him fifth in the Sun Belt. His time is also tied for the 11^th fastest by a freshman in the nation this season.
 
Four women rank fourth in the SBC with three coming being on the track being posted by Devina Schneider (800m; 2:15.41), Kylah Smith (100m hurdles; 14.22) and Hicks-Boyce (200m; 24.56). The non-track athlete was Sidnee Land in the discus throw in which she posted a toss of 44.58m (146-3).
 
Other with top 10 SBC performances were Chelsie Decoud (high jump), Kyle Denomme (800m), Courtney Johnson (high jump), Cameron (100m hurdles) and Green (400m hurdles).
 
Coming up this week for the Bobcats is the Texas Relays in Austin and the Bobcat Invitational taking place at the Bobcat Track & Field Stadium.
 
For the latest on the Texas State track & field teams, visit the official website of Texas State athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com, follow Twitter at TXStateTrack.com.