The UW track and field team had several reasons to celebrate this weekend at the UW Invitational, impressing spectators with solid performances in several different events.

“This weekend we started to see more of the types of performances that will shape our track team this season,” head coach Greg Metcalf said.

Eyes were opened early on as the UW women took first in the distance medley relay Friday. The team, made up of Christine Babcock, Falesha Ankton, Kailey Campbell and Katie Follett, now holds the NCAA’s fastest time.

“I just tried to keep my eyes up and looking ahead at the BYU runner,” Follett said. “Coming around on the last lap, with about 200 meters to go, I thought I’d be able to catch her, so I just said, ‘Okay, let’s turn on the jets.’”

Heptathlete Jeremy Taiwo also competed well.

He finished up the second day of competition by setting a school record in the event, accumulating 5,317 points on his way to a fifth-place finish.

“[Taiwo] showed the type of athlete he can be for us; setting a school record in a very demanding event for any athlete, let alone a freshman,” Metcalf said.

Taiwo and the women’s relay runners weren’t the only Huskies to impress this weekend.

Other notable performances include senior Daria Amiad-Pavlov placing second and setting a new personal record in the triple jump, sophomore Elisa Bryant’s second-place effort in the weight throw and Falesha Ankton’s fourth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles.

Like many of the Huskies, Follett is excited about the high level of performance this early in the year.

“It’s a really great feeling that my starting point this season is already better than my [personal record] from last year,” Follett said. “That’s a testament to our workouts, and everyone is in really good shape right now.”

“All in all, there was a lot to be excited about in just about every area for our men and women,” Metcalf said.

Reach reporter Ben Foutz at sports@dailyuw.com.