LEXINGTON, Ky. - Midway took first in eight events, with Connor Messer having a hand in two program records as the Eagles opened the outdoor track and field season with great success at the Pioneer Invitational, hosted by Transy on Saturday.

Messer earned a win in the 800-meter run, running a program-best time of 1:55.48, the best mark in the River States Conference so far in the young season.

Messer then teamed with Elie Mugisha, Bowen Workman and Hunter Belville in the 4x400, winning in a program-record time of 3:30.49.

He was one of two multi-event winners, as Cole Sexton took first in both the shot put and discus.

Sexton threw 13.57 meters in shot and 41.78 in disc and was also second to teammate Raush Gill in hammer throw. Gill threw a 45.55 to Sexton's 43.30

Midway had the top-two finishers in the 5,000-meter run as well. Josiah Kocis won in 15:12.54 with Carson Milner taking second in 15:16.07.

Other field event winners were Austin Ratliff in pole vault (3.65) and Ben Jones in triple jump (12.35).

Jones was also runner-up with a time of 17.22 in the 110 hurdles and third in the 400 hurdles in 1:02.00.

Other second-place finishes came from Brayden Carson in high jump (1.85), DJ Cayton in javelin (32.80) and Mugisha in the 400 (52.61), as 26 different Eagles finished in the top-eight.

Midway will stay in the state of Kentucky next Saturday, traveling to Berea for the Landon Bond Classic.