Pittsburg, Kan. -- The Missouri Southern women's track and field team got a win from Emily Presley and a new school record from junior transfer Morgan Smith as the Lions opened up the indoor season at the Crimson & Gold Invitational today at Pittsburg State. 

Presley picked up a provisional height of 12-10.25 to win the pole vault, finishing four inches higher than second place. Mylene Loridan was seventh with a height of 11-06.50, while Samantha Donnell placed ninth in a height of 11-02.50. 

Smith blazed in the hurdles, placing second for a new school record time of 8.79, breaking the previous mark of 8.87 held by both Chanell Lloyd (2010) and Dionne Prince (2006). Rachel Ray was 14th in the hurdles in a time of 9.44. 

Smith also placed ninth in the 200m with a time of 25.75, while Presley and Tiffany Gilford were 22nd and 23rd. Gillford was 15th in the 60m dash in a time of 7.98. 

Destiny Akannam was ninth in the 400m dash in a time of 58.72, three seconds faster than her previous best, while Kristen Koch and Ray placed 21st and 23rd. The 4x400m relay team of Smith, Ray, Akannam and Allie Heckemeyer placed seventh in a time of 4:02.21.

Kylee Hulsey was 13th in the high jump with a height of 5-00.25, while Heckemeyer was sixth in the long jump, pulling in a distance of 17-07.50. Gilford was 14th in the long jump, while Sierra Barrett placed 20th. Heckemeyer was second in the triple jump with a provisional distance of 38-06.00, while Halee Cashio was 14th in the weight throw with a distance of 42-09.00.

The Lions will be off until the team hosts its first home meet of the 2017 calendar year. The Southern Open will take place on January 20-21 inside the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.