PUEBLO, Colo. – Day one of competition for Minnesota State women's and men's track and field at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships wrapped up on Thursday night at the CSU Pueblo Thunderbowl.
 
Lily Beneke cemented All-American status with a sixth place finish in hammer throw for the Mavericks. Beneke threw 57.64m (189-1) on her fifth attempt.
 
The men's 4x100 meter relay team of D'Eric Smith, Kemarri Stewart, Richlu Tudee and Sam Eben Ebai led the field in prelims with a season best time of 39.44. The Mavericks finished ahead of Grand Valley State (39.56) in heat two and set an MSU school record along the way.
 
Jalen McGee was an All-American in long jump after finishing sixth with a leap of 7.56m (24-9.75). Anthony Ward also placed ninth with a jump of 7.51m (24-7.75).
 
Viktoriia Ermolaeva is currently in eighth place in women's heptathlon with four events scored. With 3,213 points, Ermolaeva is 379 points off the leader (Blakelee Winn, Pittsburg State).
 
Molly Kahl finished 14^th in long jump with a distance of 5.89m (19-4) and Adeyah Brewster took 15^th with a mark of 5.87m (19-3.75). Brewster also posted a 12^th place performance in 100 meter prelims with time of 11.47.
 
Tudee crossed the line 17^th in 100 meter prelims with a time of 10.23.
 
With three team points, Minnesota State men's track & field is 16^th in team scoring after Thursday. Minnesota State women's track & field also scored three points and is currently tied for 10^th. Competition resumes Friday at 10:30 a.m. in Pueblo.