PROMISING United States-based Zimbabwean track and field athlete Paul Madzivire got his 2012 season to a good start when he put up two solid performances in the 60m dash and long jump events during the two-day indoor Razorback Invitational meet at Fayetteville in Arkansas at the weekend.

Madzivire, who is now in the second of his four-year athletics scholarship at Florida State University, first took part in the long jump event on the first day of the meet on Friday.

And the young Zimbabwean athlete did well to finish fifth with a good leap of 7.53 metres.

On Saturday, Madzivire ran in the 60m dash and clocked 6.78 seconds when coming third as the Florida State men's and women's indoor track and field teams more than held their own as the two-day Razorback Invitational drew to a close on Saturday at the Randal Tyson Track Centre at Fayetteville.

According to reports from Fayetteville, the FSU men grabbed a pair of top-five finishes in the 60-metre dash on Saturday, with Madzivire (6.78 seconds) placing third in a career-best time, followed by Hortatio Williams (6.81 seconds) in sixth.

On Friday, Madzivire also touched down with a fifth-place finish in the long jump event after soaring 7.53m; a significant improvement over his season-opening performance two weeks ago at Birmingham in Alabama.

Madzivire was part of the Seminoles men's women's team that registered 17 individual personal bests during the two-day indoor meet at Fayettiville at the weekend.

And their head coach Bob Braman was satisfied with his charges overall performance.

"For January, particularly, we had a really good performance," Braman was reported as saying after the meet on Saturday night. "What I gauge the kids on is how hard they compete and what they're able to do this time of year, and they did that (well)."

With nine nationally ranked men's team and eight ranked women's teams in the 12-team meet, the Seminoles were surely tested.

And while FSU did not post a single NCAA automatic qualifying mark, a handful of athletes turned in performances that should stand up when the top 16 performers in each event are selected for the national championship meet.

"I like these elite meets," Braman said. "They give the kids a chance to step up. We got some good things done."

"It was a good meet," Braman said. "I think it really served its purpose from an encouragement standpoint and from a reality check."

The Seminoles will continue their march toward the postseason next week at the Spire Classic in Cleveland, Ohio, which is expected to mark the season debut of All-American sprinter Maurice Mitchell and women's sprint standout Marecia Pemberton.

FSU's Razorback Invitational Performances

Saturday

Michelle Jenije, triple jump (1st place - 13.15m/43-1.75)

Phillip Young, triple jump (2nd place - 15.87m/52-1.75)

Paul Madzivire, 60m dash (3rd place - 6.78)

Amanda Winslow, mile (2nd place - 4:37.30)

Friday

Amy Harris, long jump (2nd place - 6.36m/20-10.50)

Horatio Williams, 200m (3rd place - 21.44)

Lauren Giffin, pole vault (8th place - 3.91m/12-10)

Paul Madzivire, long jump (5th place - 7.53m/24-8.50).