Ashland track and field picked up the outdoor season right where it left off indoor: throwing things far, running fast and dominating the competition.

Eagles competed at two different venues last weekend, with some of the throwers taking off to South Carolina’s Weems-Baskin Invitational and the rest of the athletes staying near home at the Wooster Invitational.

In South Carolina, sophomore Cynthia Watt got her season off to a winning start in the women’s hammer throw with a toss of 60.86 meters that was more than four meters further than any of her competitors.

“I’m number two in Division II,” she said. “I’m number 12 in all divisions. That is awesome. That’s probably the highest I have ever been in my whole entire career.”

Junior Jessica Bridenthal was second (56.65 meters) and sophomore Kaylea Zick was fourth (44.04).

In the men’s hammer throw, everyone was competing for second behind Ashland strength and conditioning coach A.G. Kruger. The three-time Olympian had the best season-opening mark of his career at 76.25 meters.

Behind him, four Eagles rounded out the top five spots.

Junior Zac Ball threw a personal best 63.15 meters to finish second.

“It’s cool,” Ball said. “There is not much more you can say about competing against a three-time Olympian. He always brings a lot of energy and a lot of emotion.”

Senior Jared Conklin was third (55.68), junior Taylor Mack finished fourth (54.33) and junior Clay Harris was fifth (53.93).

In the shot put, senior Donald Duke won the men’s competition with a toss of 18.03 meters and Bridenthal was the top woman at 14.35.

In the men’s discus, senior Kyle Steinhauser was second with a hurl of 49.49 meters. Sophomore Jason Zahn was third (48.95), senior Chris Powell finished fourth (47.80) and Harris was fifth (46.76).

At Wooster, junior Kim Habegger (women’s hammer) and sophomore Jamie Sindelar (women’s shot put) were victorious.