The 2013 Lone Star Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships began on Thursday with the women’s heptathlon and men’s decathlon amidst cold and blustery weather conditions at Buffalo Sports Park on the campus of West Texas A&M University.
Angelo State’s Jordan Gray won three of the first four events in the heptathlon to take a lead after Day 1 with a total of 3,059 points. She opened the day by winning the 100-meter hurdles in a wind-aided 14.20. Tarleton State’s Shelby Terry won the high jump with a clearance of 5-4.25 and briefly held the overall lead before Gray finished the day strong. Gray won the shot put with a toss of 36-5.5 and the 200 meters in 25.13.
There are a total of eight athletes competing in the heptathlon. Abilene Christian’s Cassie Brooks is in second with 2,986 points, Morgan Shelton of West Texas A&M is third with 2,901 points and Terry is fourth with 2,860 points. Each of the top three athletes has already provisionally qualified for nationals this year.
Angelo State is also dominating the men’s decathlon after the first day. Seth Pearson leads the pack for over 300 points after winning 100-meter dash and long jump with a total of 3,713 points. He took second in both the shot put and 400 meters. He broke the meet decathlon records in the 100 meters with a time of 10.78 and the long jump with a leap of 23-6, but both were wind-aided. Teammate Dalton Boyls is second with 3,405 points and won the 400 meters in a time 51.65.
There are 12 men competing for the eight scoring spots in the decathlon. Places 3-8 are all within 133 points of each other.
The meet continues on Friday at 10:30 a.m. with the 110-meter hurdles in the decathlon. The heptathlon begins at 11 a.m. with the long jump. The rest of the meet starts at 1:30 p.m. with the women’s hammer throw. The track events start at 6 p.m. with the 3,000-meter women’s steeplechase finals.