BIRMINGHAM, ALA. - On Monday, the Sun Belt Indoor Track and Field Championships got under way at the Birmingham CrossPlex hosted by the University of South Alabama. The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers saw success all around as they earned multiple top 20 finishes and set personal bests.

In the weight throw, Senior Sammy Jo Layko earned Coastal Carolina's first top 20 of the day when she was able to reach 16.53 meters on her first attempt. The Newport, North Carolina native was just six hundredths of a meter shy of her personal best of 16.59 meters.

Airika McCaskill also competed in the weight throw final, as the freshman was able to reach the distance of 12.53 meters.

In the long jump finals, senior Kelsey Briggs earned a top 20 finish, coming in 16^th with a jump of 5.49 meters.

Kelsia Moore placed just outside the top 20 as the freshman leaped 5.25 meters.

Sophomore Joya Blackwell added a new personal best in the finals of the high jump, as she was able to reach a height of 1.63 meters.

In the preliminary round of the 800 meters, Chanticleer runners Alyssa LeClaire and Rebecca Lehman finished the event with personal best times. The junior LeClaire was able to reach the finals on Tuesday by placing fifth with a time of 2:12.77.

The freshman Lehman, finished with a time of 2:23.99, almost five seconds better than her previous best set earlier in the season.

Also moving along into Tuesday's finals is junior Hesmari Coetzee after finishing fifth (56.76) in the prelims of the 400 meters.

Giovanna Leone set a personal best in the 3000 meters as the junior finished the race with a time 11:00.53.

Briggs competed later the 200 meters finishing with a personal best time of 26.25.

Even with personal bests, both Briggs and Leone were unable to reach the finals in their respective events.

Other performers that competed in preliminary action, but unable to advance to Tuesday's finals include senior Karissa Lunn in the 60 meters and senior Anacia Hines in the  60 meter hurdles. Lunn, the Darlington native finished with a time of 7.89 and Hines the Dunbar, West Virginia native ended the day with a time of 8.95.

The distance medley relay team of LeClaire, Mya Ray, Lehman, Heather Delaplaine wrapped up the day with a team best time of the season of 12:42.37.

Day two action will start at 9:00 a.m.

For complete coverage of CCU Cross Country/Track and Field, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalTFXC(twitter), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.