SOUTH HUNTINGTON, N.Y. - Shanice Grant and Alea Stevens each won their respective events as the LIU Brooklyn women's track and field team opened up the 2013-14 season Friday at the Bill Ward Invitational, hosted by St. John's University.

Stevens, a sophomore, just edged out fellow Blackbird Katrina Anderson to take home in the win in the 500-meter run in a time of 1:18.56. Anderson was close behind in second in 1:18.99.

Grant led an LIU Brooklyn sweep of the 60-meter hurdles. After posting the top time in preliminaries,  the sophomore won finals with her time of 8.67. Ja'Mesha Richard placed second in 8.94, while Camille Thomas rounded out the top three, running to a time of 9.01. 

Josephine Watson and Anise Cuffee also had strong showings for the Blackbirds on Friday, each placing second and third in their two events, respectively. Watson first took second in the 60-meter dash in 7.73, while Cuffee was .02 behind for third place. 

In the 200 meter dash, Watson had her second second-place showing of the day, running to a time of 25.74. Cuffee was again third in 25.83.

The Blackbirds return to action this Sunday when they compete at the Fairleigh Dickinson Patch Meet.