DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Columbus State University men's and women's track & field teams kicked off action at the Peach Belt Conference Championship on Thursday. The three-day meet is being hosted by Embry Riddle. 

After the opening day both the men's and women's teams sit in fourth place with each team putting up 13 points to start.

CSU grabbed a first place finish on the opening day thanks to Alli Hay and her performance in the 10,000 meter race. She ran away from the field in the last mile of the grueling 25-lap race. The sophomore finished with a time of 39:04.19. Her teammate Cynthia Lopez-Jordan finished in ninth giving the Lady Cougars two in the top-ten.

After finishing third last year, Nate Blackmon moved up a spot in the long jump grabbing a second place finish. The junior put forth his best final jump of the season with a distance of 7.19m. Right behind him was his teammate Javian Williams who ended in fourth place with a jump of 7.06m. 

The Lady Cougars picked up 7^th and 8^th place finishes with a couple of excellent showings in the long jump. Eronda Doss had a PR with a jump of 5.17m while Tianna Jackson was right behind her with a season PR of 5.10m. 

The Cougars qualified two men and two women in the 1,500 meter run with Charles Asouzu, Carl Corley, Camryn Bridges and Jastonie Hill all advancing. 

In the 100 meters the men showed out well, grabbing the third and fourth best times as Roosevelt Trammell and Nate Blackmon qualified for the finals. On the women's side, Jasmine Finch had the fourth fastest prelim time to qualify in the 100m as well. 

The 400 meters saw one from each Cougar team advance with Mya Jackson and Xavier Jordan representing CSU to the next race.

The conference championship continues with day two on Friday. 

Notable Events

Long Jump
Nate Blackmon – 7.19m  | 2nd 
Javian Williams – 7.06m | 4^th

Eronda Doss - 5.17m | 7th 
Tianna Jackson - 5.10m | 8th

Javelin
William Chandler - 45.54m | 9th

10,000 meters
Alli Hay - 39:04.19 | 1st
Cynthia Lopez-Jordan - 43:15.99 | 9th