BLACKSBURG, Va. – Sophomore Kiara Grant ran the fastest 60-meter dash time for a Norfolk State female in more than seven years this weekend at the Virginia Tech Invitational, earning one of the Spartans' six top-five finishes at their indoor season-opening meet.

Grant placed third in the 60 meters in a personal-record time of 7.42 seconds. That represents the fastest time for a Spartan since Shanneka Claiborne's 7.38 at the CNU Holiday Open in December of 2011.

Grant had one of six top-five finishes for NSU during the weekend, all coming on the track. Junior Martha Bissah also posted a PR in her runner-up finish in the 1,000 meters. She registered a time of 2 minutes, 47.24 seconds, just .08 behind winner Rachel Pocratsky of Virginia Tech.

Redshirt freshman DaJah Parker-Love made her NSU debut over the weekend and also notched a top-five finish. She placed fifth in the 200 meters in 25.14 seconds.

Another freshman, Fridah Koech, also fared well in her first track meet. She led a 2-3-4 Spartan finish in the 5,000 with a time of 19:19.31. Her older sister, Ashah Koech, was third, followed by Caroline Samoei in fourth.

In the field events, freshman Arieana Parker placed eighth in the both the weight throw (49 feet, 4.5 inches) and shot put (38-6). Fellow freshman Tiara Simms finished seventh in the shot put (39-0.25).

The Spartans are back in action next Friday and Saturday at the VMI Keydet Invitational.