With several strong performances on day one of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships in Memphis, Tenn., the men's and women's track and field teams are in a position to challenge for the conference titles.
The women's squad scored 41.5 points on the first day of competition, and sits in third place heading into day two. Rhodes College leads the field with 67.5 points, while Trinity University is in second with 56 points.
On the men's side, DePauw is currently in third after scoring 44.5 points on Friday. Centre College leads all teams with 75.5 points and Rhodes is in second with 47 points.
Freshman Kyle Mackey won a conference title in the pole vault, competition, taking first at 4.10 meters (13-5.25). The performance earned Mackey the first all-SCAC honors of his career. Sophomore David Garrett placed third in the event at 3.95 meters (12-11.5), also good for all-conference honors.
Sophomore Noah Droddy posted an all-SCAC performance in the 1,000-meter run, placing second with a time of 32:37.74. Meanwhile, senior Nick Pucillo clocked a time of 9:54.86 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to place fourth.
The Tigers also scored several points in field events Friday. Senior Robert Steele took fourth in the long jump at 6.45 meters (21-2), while freshman Grant Clary finished sixth in the event. Senior Mike Benson took fifth in the hammer throw at 40.82 meters (133-11).
Senior Courtney Lauer earned all-SCAC honors in two events, winning the javelin throw competition at 40.37 meters (132-5), and placing second in the long jump. Junior Samantha Wong finished right behind Lauer at third in the long jump, also garnering all-conference honors.
Freshman Siri Retrum earned a sixth-place finish in the 1,000-meter run, clocking a time of 40:52.69 in the finals. In the finals of the 3,000-meter steeplechase, junior Lindsey Bauman took fifth with a time of 12:31.85. Meanwhile, freshman Jillian Balser and junior Taryn Owens placed fourth and sixth, respectively, in the women's pole vault.
The SCAC Championships continue Saturday in Memphis, Tenn.