MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Jack Turner and Joel McFarlane are 1-2 in the decathlon and Amaya Scott leads the heptathlon after the opening day of the Conference USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which got underway on Thursday at Dean A. Hayes Track & Soccer Stadium.
Turner has scored 4,081 points to take the lead through the first five events, while McFarlane has tallied 3,864 points for second place with one more day of the decathlon on the schedule. UTSA has three athletes in position to score points in the event, as Justin Wright has a hold on sixth place with 3,200 points at the midway point.
Meanwhile, Amaya Scott is atop the leaderboard through the first four disciplines in the heptathlon with 3,317 points and Maren Wilms is in seventh with 2,886.
Turner, the two-time defending C-USA Indoor heptathlon champion, grabbed the lead after clocking a time of 10.94 seconds in the 100 meters for 874 points in the first of 10 events in the decathlon. The Exeter, England, native then held on to the top spot with a leap of 7.15 meters (23-5.5) — the second-best mark in the field — for 850 points in the long jump before measuring 13.09m (42-11.5) in the shot put. Turner cleared 1.99m (6-6.25) for 794 points in the high jump and circled first in 48.40 for 890 points in the 400m to wrap up his day.
McFarlane, the 2021 C-USA Indoor heptathlon runner-up, sped to an 11.13 clocking in the 100m to open with 832 points before posting the top long jump of the day with a 7.30m (23-11.5) measurement that was worth 886 points. The Monikie, Scotland, product registered a shot put mark of 12.30m (40-4.25), cleared 1.93m (6-4) for 740 points in the high jump and then ended the first day with a 50.74 clocking for 781 points in the 400m.
Wright, the bronze medalist in the conference heptathlon earlier this year, posted marks of 11.71 in the 100m, 6.51m (21-4.25) in the long jump, 10.09m (33-1.25) in the shot put, 1.87m (6-1.5) in the high jump and 54.66 in the 400m on his opening day.
Scott started her day with a time of 14.72 to earn 879 points in the 100m hurdles, which put her in fifth place. The Romsey, England, native then finished at the top of the field in the high jump with a 1.72m (5-7.75) clearance worth 879 points to leap into second place. She then took the lead after measuring 13.86m (45-5.75) for 785 points in the shot put before clocking a 26.27 for 774 points in the 200m. Scott has a 126-point advantage over UAB's Brittany Floyd.
Wilms recorded a time of 15.06 in the 100m hurdles, cleared 1.63m (5-4.25) in the high jump, posted a mark of 10.07m (33-0.5) in the shot put and clocked a 26.58 in the 200m to settle into seventh place in the 13-person field.
Friday's action will kick off at 2 p.m. with the women's hammer throw and continue with the second day of the heptathlon and decathlon, as well as the men's hammer and the 10,000-meter races.
On Saturday, field events are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and running events at 3:30 p.m. Sunday's field events also will begin at 1 p.m. with the running finals slated for a 4 p.m. start.
UTSA Results
Men
Decathlon (Day 1)
1. Jack Turner 4,081 — 100 Meters 10.94 (874); Long Jump 7.15m/23-5.5 (850); Shot Put 13.09m/42-11.5 (673); High Jump 1.99m/6-6.25 (794); 400 Meters 48.40 (890)
2. Joel McFarlane 3,864 — 100 Meters 11.13 (832); Long Jump 7.30m/23-11.5 (886); Shot Put 12.30m/40-4.25 (625); High Jump 1.93m/6-4 (740); 400 Meters 50.74 (781)
6. Justin Wright 3,200 — 100 Meters 11.71 (709); Long Jump 6.51m/21-4.25 (700); Shot Put 10.09m/33-1.25 (491); High Jump 1.87m/6-1.5 (687); 400 Meters 54.66 (613)
Women
Heptathlon (Day 1)
1. Amaya Scott 3,317 — 100-Meter Hurdles 14.72 (879); High Jump 1.72m/5-7.75 (879); Shot Put 13.86m/45-5.75 (785); 200 Meters 26.27 (774)
7. Maren Wilms 2,886 — 100-Meter Hurdles 15.06 (834); High Jump 1.63m/5-4.25 (771); Shot Put 10.07m/33-0.5 (534); 200 Meters 26.58 (747)
-UTSA-
