ATLANTA ? Kentucky throwers Emily Bernhardt (Marietta, Ga.) and Alek Grietens (Nipomo, Calif.) posted strong performances in the hammer throw Friday to highlight the opening day of the Yellow Jacket Invitational. The two-day event is being hosted by Georgia Tech at the George C. Griffin Track.

Bernhardt, a freshman making her first return home to the Peach State, finished second in the hammer throw with a regional-qualifying mark of 183-2.

Bernhardt, who shattered her personal-best mark in the hammer throw last week with a toss of 184-6, has notched regional-qualifying marks in back-to-back meets. She was a seven-time All-America selection at Lassiter High School, located approximately 20 miles from this weekend?s meet site.

Grietens recorded a personal-best toss of 180-6 in the hammer throw to finish seventh. He eclipsed his personal record of 174-8 recorded last week at the Shamrock Invitational. His mark ranks fifth all-time in UK annals.

The hammer throw was the only event contested on Friday as the running events and the remainder of the field events commence Saturday at 10:30 a.m. EDT. Live statistics will be available at www.deltatiming.com/events/2007/yellowjacket.

Complete results and a recap of Saturday?s action will be available at ukathletics.com.