The ISU track and field teams began their indoor season at the Cyclone Holiday Track and Field Classic. The ISU men’s and women’s teams had many victories at the first meet of the year.

“We did a lot of good things in this good performance,” women’s head coach Dick Lee said. “It was a good opener, but in some ways in January we have to start over again when the kids come back after the Christmas break. But hopefully, we will get back to form.”

Six ISU women placed first in their events. Ada Anderson, who won the 800-meter dash and was part of the unattached winning 4×300-meter relay team, said this meet helps in future meets.

“[This meet] sets a good baseline,” Anderson said. “[The team] has been practicing really hard with the coaches, and I had good focus and felt relaxed. I am running better than last year.”

Iowa State’s DaVonna Carr took first place in the long jump.

“I was a little nervous, but once I got out there, I felt just fine,” Carr said. “This meet lets me know that I am prepared, since I did well. It was a good start with the team doing just fine. We had a lot of first-place finishes.”

Last year’s Big 12 weight throw champion, Susan Sherman, said the meet was a constructive way to start the season. Sherman won with a weight throw toss of 60-11 1/2 and took second place in the shot put with a throw of 45-5.

“[This meet] gets out the first-meet jitters, so you are ready for the more important meets,” Sherman said. “I am throwing a lot better this year at this time. This is really going to be a good year. This season started out well and I am shooting for nationals.”

The Holiday Classic was the first competitive test of the season for the Cyclones. Six schools competed along with Iowa State — Drake, Winona State, Northwest Missouri State, Kansas City Community College and Upper Iowa. The men’s squad also found plenty of success with five first-place finishes.

Jamal Salahuddin had a winning shot put throw of 59-2.

“This meet shows me where I am and where I have to be,” Salahuddin said. “I think that this is going to be an opportunity [for me] this year. I now know where I need to go to reach the goals that I couldn’t in the past.

“I already qualified for the Division meet, so now I am going to try and qualify for nationals. We had great throwers here at Iowa State, and I want to help put ISU weight throwing back on the map.”

Another first-place finisher on the team was ISU unattached long-jump champ Tony Douglas. Douglas said the meet was a huge confidence builder that will lead to a good season.

“This meet gives us something to work on and improve on,” Douglas said.

“I think that we are a lot better and have improved since last year. We will definitely move up in the Big 12 standings.”

The first meet of the year is always difficult, but even more so for incoming freshmen. Walk-on freshman Chris Gardner overcame the challenges of his first meet and set a meet record in the 500-meter dash, clocking 1:03.76.

“I have been getting stronger and faster since the beginning of practice,” Gardner said.

“[The record] was amazing, I couldn’t believe what I did. I’m a walk-on and my goal is to keep running hard and earn a scholarship.”

Men’s head coach Steve Lynn said he has noticed the hard work Gardner has put in.

“He works hard all of the time,” Lynn said.

“He has a lot of talent, and he is just a success story.”

The Cyclone track team will take a break from competitive action over the holiday break. The team will return to action on Jan. 24 in Madison, Wis., at the Wisconsin Invitational.