The University of Illinois Springfield outdoor track and field teams competed in the Jim Vargo Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Louisville, Ky. The Prairie Stars hit two NCAA marks in their second meet of the season.
 
Blake Jones hit a NCAA automatic mark at the competition in the 10,000m. He finished the race in a time of 29:14.89. He will be the first UIS men's runner to compete at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in May. Jones finished second in his race, which included 41 other finishers.
 
Taryn Christy hit a NCAA provisional mark in the women's 10,000m. She completed her event in a time of 35:22.45, a time that is less than a minute off the automatic qualifying mark. Christy came in third overall in her 19-person race.
 
Other top-10 finishers for the Prairie Stars women were Savannah Brannan (10^th, 10,000m), Jade Anderson (5^th, 5,000m), Jordan Serrahn (6^th, 5,000m), and Margaret George (8^th, Discus). Men's top-10 finishers also included Ryan Jones (7^th, 3,000m steeplechase) and Jake Schwartz (7^th,1,500m).
 
The UIS track and field programs will next be at the Olivet Nazarene Tiger Open next Saturday.