STANFORD, CA - The University of Iowa women's track and field team got their 2009 outdoor season underway Friday at day one of the Stanford Invitational, hosted by Stanford University. It was a good start for Iowa, with all of the athletes earning new collegiate best times in their respective events.

In the 1,500-meter race, it was the freshmen pair of Betsy Flood (2nd, 4:31.42) and McKenzie Melander (3rd, 4:31.70) heading up the pack with sophomore Lauren Hardesty (12th, 4:40.59) closely behind. Freshman Brooke Eilers (21st, 17:20.73) led the Hawkeyes in the 5,000-meter race, joined by sophomore Amanda Hardesty (23rd, 17:33.25), graduate student Sarah Spencer Perry (24th, 17:40.94) and freshman Lindsay Anderson (27th, 18:27.04). Junior Jolly Burke (12th, 36:06.96) was Iowa's lone representative in the 10,000 meters.

The Hawkeyes will send split squads to compete at the Tiger Track Classic (March 3-4) at Auburn, AL, and the Central Invitational (March 4) at Pella, IA. Events at Auburn are set to start at 4:30 p.m. (CT) Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday at Auburn University's Hutsell-Rosen Track. Events at Central will start at 10 a.m. and will be held at Central College's Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.