SAGINAW, Mich. -- The Siena Heights women's track and field team earned two first place finishes while garnering five automatic performances and a provisional performance in the Saginaw Valley Holiday Classic, this past weekend.

Kierra Rice ran the 60 meter hurdles in 8.96 seconds to earn an automatic bid to Nationals and to currently rank third in the NAIA as she won the event by .19 seconds. Triple jumper Charlena Williams managed a jump of 11.16 meters (36 feet, 7 1/2 inches) to earn a provisional bid to Nationals.

Asia Gardner took second in 200 meter dash with a 25.05 seconds--converted to 25.44 seconds from the oversized track. Taking third place of 35 runners in the 60 meter dash with an automatic time of 7.73 was Gardner as she ran a 7.72 in the preliminaries.

With a second place finish in the shot put, Haley Hudson managed a 13.50 meter (44-3 1/2) toss to earn automatic bid to Nationals and ranks her first in the NAIA. Rachel O'Neill took sixth in the shot put, but faired better in the weight throw. O'Neill threw an automaitc-distance of 16.78m (55-3/4) to earn second place and an NAIA rank of third.

In the 600 meter run, Brianna Pekel took second place witha a time of 1:38.33.

Siena Heights will return to action this weekend at the Kent State Golden Gala in Kent, Ohio.