CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Senior
Michael Hernandez completed the opening day of the decathlon in ninth place at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships.
Hernandez, who finished ninth in last year's event, scored 3,318 points on the strength of a season-best 22-6 1/4 feet effort in the long jump. He also ran a season-best 11.37 seconds in the 100.
The breakdown for Hernandez: 11.37 100 meters (780 pts); 22-6 1/4 feet long jump (781), 37-1 3/4 feet shot put (556), 5-8 1/2 high jump (577) and 54.61 400m (615).
Central Missouri's Darius Walker holds the lead through Day 1 with 3,865 polnts. Chico State's J. Patrick Smith is fourth (3,664) and his teammate Talor Fulfer is seventh (3,537).
The Broncos' only female competitor, Tokkie Adeniji, will compete later today in the 400 meters.