WILMINGTON, N.C. -- Junior Alisha Hopkins claimed a share of first place in the long jump with a mark of 17-8 to lead the Lady Pirates to a fifth place finish among 11 teams at the UNCW Seahawk Track and Field Invitational in Wilmington, N.C.

Sharon Helig set a personal best 17-3 1/2 in the long jump to claim third place honors.

The Lady Pirates finished with 66 team points. Host school UNC Wilmington won the competition with 173 points.

Senior Colleen McGinn tied her own ECU record in the high jump with a mark of 5-8. McGinn had previously jumped that mark twice back in 2002 and recently on Feb. 28, 2004. The 5-8 mark qualified McGinn for the NCAA Regionals.

In the pole vault event, ECU placed four athletes in the top eight with Tammie Mentzel coming in second. Freshmen Kinsey Batts and Lindsey Rosales finished tied for fourth, while Nicole Marchewka finished eighth.

Kelsey Walker recorded an event best 12:67 in the 100 meters.

"This was a nice opening meet for us," said ECU head coach Matt Munson. "We brought down a skeleton crew of younger athletes to compete and they performed great. We opened up the outdoor season really well and we are now looking forward to the Raleigh Relays next weekend."

ECU will travel to Raleigh March 26-27 for the Raleigh Relays before heading to Conway, S.C. for the Coastal Carolina Invitational on Sunday, March 28.

UNCW Seahawk Track & Field Invitational
ECU RESULTS

Long Jump
T1. Alisha Hopkins 17-8
3. Sharon Helig 17-3 1/2

High Jump
T2. Colleen McGinn 5-8 *^

Pole Vault
2. Tammie Mentzel 11-5 3/4
T4. Kinsey Batts 10-6
T4. Lindsey Rosales 10-6
8. Nicole Marchewka 10-0

Javelin
6. Chelsea Salisbury 126-8

100 Meter Hurdles
5. Nicole Callaham 15.05

400 Meter Hurdles
4. Brie Berkowitz 1:07.73

100 Meters
1. Kelsey Walker 12:67

400 Meters
3. Simone Baptiste 1:01.14

800 Meters
7. Lauren Miller 2:21.50

* Denotes NCAA Regional Qualifying Mark
^ Tied ECU record