Links associated with this release:
Day 1 Results (HTML)
Heptathlon/Decathlon Standings

BIG SKY LEADERS LIVE UP TO HYPE IN DAY 1 OF TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS 5/14/2008 SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Idaho State women’s track and field team began the Big Sky Outdoor Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in strong fashion, recording the top three heptathlon scores during the opening day of the meet. Big Sky leader Cassie Merkley, who has the seventh best mark in the nation this season, holds the lead with 3,380 points and is followed by teammates Sydney Wendt (3,030) and Erin Ball (3,003). Merkley opened her day by running the 100-hurdles in 13.78 seconds. Her time was the best in the field by .71 seconds. She then placed second in the high jump after clearing 5-05.25 and had the best mark in the shot put at 40-11.00. Merkley continued to extend her lead by winning the 200 in 25.16 seconds. Montana’s Bailey Cox is fourth overall with 2,989 points and is being trailed in the top eight by Montana State’s Kelsey Cooley (2,917), ISU’s Amanda Janowitz (2,877), Sacramento State’s Naima Goodwin (2,871) and Eastern Washington’s Jessica Duran (2,843). In the decathlon, Portland State’s Nick Trubachik holds the lead at the halfway point. Trubachik, who owned the best mark in the Big Sky heading into the meet, scored 3,380 during the first five events. Montana’s Christian Segota took the early lead during the day, winning the first two events. Segota ran the 100 in 11.14 seconds and long jumped 22-07.75 to compile 1,620 points through the first two events. However, Trubachik took his first lead of the day following a win in the shot put with a mark of 44-10.25 and distanced himself from the field after clearing a personal-best 6-08.25 in the high jump. His high jump was the fourth best this season by a Big Sky athlete and was five inches higher than his previous best. He closed out the day by running the 400 in 51.35. Sacramento State’s Robert Brazier, who is the highest returning finisher from last season’s championships, moved into second place after winning the 400 in 50.01 seconds. Brazier’s time was 1.15 seconds faster than the second-place finisher and helped him score 814 points in the event. His total of 3,570 puts him just ahead of Montana’s Chris Hicks (3.518) and Portland State’s Vince Kinney (3,504). The remainder of the top eight is comprised of Segota (3.470), Montana State’s Mike Green (3,393), Northern Arizona’s Ryan Eck (3,336) and Weber State’s Cole Toupin (3,313). The multi events conclude on Thursday at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex. The men get under way with the 110-hurdles at 11 a.m. while the women begin at 1 p.m. with the long jump. The 2008 Big Sky Championships will continue through Saturday.