DAYTON, Ohio — Hilary Lang had limited experience with the track and field scene when she arrived at the University of Dayton.

You wouldn’t know it by looking at her results.

The college sophomore, a native of Cranberry Township who attended Quigley Catholic High School, is leaving her mark on the Flyers’ indoor and outdoor track and field teams.

Most recently, Lang broke the women’s outdoor program record in the long jump with an effort of 18 feet, 7.25 inches at an invitational hosted by the University of South Carolina March 24.

At the Atlantic 10 Conference Indoor Championships in mid-February, she placed second in the pentathlon, breaking the school record by amassing 3,418 points.

The long jump is one of five events included in the pentathlon and Lang’s leap of 18-5.25 not only bested the field, it gave her another school record.

“My freshman year, everything was so new,” Lang said. “I figured this year would be better just because I had that experience under my belt, but I definitely didn’t think I would break those records. It’s exciting to improve so much.”

Jason Francis is in his first year of leading both the outdoor and indoor teams.

“My first impression of Hilary was that she was really athletic and there was a lot of explosiveness to her,” Francis said. “I could tell she was going to be a lot better this year than she expected. She had a great indoor season.”

Throughout Lang’s childhood, her passion was gymnastics. First training at X-Cel Gymnastics in Cranberry Township, she moved on to Butler Gymnastics in the eighth grade and trained under Steve Heasley for four years, specializing in floor exercise.

As a junior at Quigley, she decided to run track.

“Quigley didn’t have a track team, so I ran for Ambridge,” she said. “I competed in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.”

Lang qualified for the state championship meet in the 100 dash in 2009, but was unable to compete her senior year due to an Achilles injury.

By the time she graduated from high school, Lang had left gymnastics behind and gave track another shot when she arrived in western Ohio. It has proved to be a good decision.

“It’s fun to excel at something other than academics,” she said. “I really enjoy the team aspect of it.”

As a freshman in 2011, Lang and her teammates won the Atlantic 10 Indoor team title. This past season, the Flyers placed second behind the University of Charlotte.

“You always want to win a team competition like that,” said Lang, “but we had lost so many seniors from the year before, I’m not surprised we took second this time.”

Lang, who is majoring in exercise physiology, was recently named one of only 10 indoor track and field stars to make the Academic All-Conference Team.

“I love track, but school comes first,” said Lang. “Being a student-athlete, there’s so much time management you must do. To be recognized for it, I’m really appreciative of that.”

Another school record may be in Lang’s back pocket before long.

She is currently third all-time at Dayton in the heptathlon, an event exclusive to the outdoor season.

“By the end of the season, she should have that record too,” Francis said.

Even the humble Lang admits, “It’s definitely possible.”