Texas Lutheran Holds Slim Lead Over Trinity After Day One of the SCAC Women's Track & Field Championship

(All photos by Josh Moczygemba) 

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Texas Lutheran University holds a three-point lead, 82 to 79, over Trinity University after Friday's competition at the 2014 SCAC Women's Track & Field Championships which are being held on the campus of Trinity. Official Championships Website | Event-by-Event Results & Interviews | Photo Gallery

TLU, is in its first year as a member of the SCAC, concluded its membership in the American Southwest Conference with four consecutive women's track and field team titles and will go for the program's fifth consecutive conference title on Saturday.

Standing in the way of the Bulldogs is defending SCAC champion Trinity. After Friday's first six events, the two squads have set the stage for what should be an epic two-team battle through Saturday's final team relay.

Colorado College and Southwestern University are tied with eight points each and the University of Dallas is in fifth with six points.

Cori Picazo got the ball rolling for Texas Lutheran with a first-place finish in the pole valut. The freshman became the first TLU student-athlete to earn All-SCAC Track and Field honors with her winning toss of 8 feet, 11 1/2 inches. Trinity teammates Taylor Gloor (8 feet, 5 1/2 inches) and Morgan Briggs (8 feet, 5 1/2 inches) took second and third place respectively.

TLU swept the three awards stand places in the triple jump. Vanecia Spencer finished first with a leap of 36 feet, 5 inches, Kristi Ellis was second at 35 feet, 9 1/2 inches and Marlena Hunt was third with a jump of 34 feet, 11 inches.

In the shot put, Claudia Morquecho of Texas Lutheran outpaced the field with a toss of 40 feet, 3 1/2 inches. Kelsey Oelze was second with a throw of 38 feet, 2 inches and Meredith Berger of Texas Lutheran placed third with a distance of 37 feet, 6 inches.

Kristyna Landry of Texas Lutheran gave the Bulldogs their fourth straight win in the field events with a winning toss of 131 feet, 1 inch in the hammer throw. Morquecho was second with a throw of 127 feet, 10 inches and Southwestern's Maya Adighibe was third with a toss of 105 feet, 5 inches.

The evening session saw the teams take to the track for the 3,000 meter steeplechase and the 10,000 meters.

Trinity dominated the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a 1-2-3 finish - led by Jaclyn Newell, who finished in a time of 11:41.96 to earn gold medal honors in the event for the second consecutive year. Michelle Obendorf placed second with a time of 11:55.71 and Jessica Needle was third in a time of 12:03.21.

The evenings final event, the 10,000 meter run, produced another 1-2-3 Trinity finish. Vanessa Moreno placed first with a time of 39:25.48. Maddie Murphy was second with a finishing time of 39:29.04 and Rosemary Steup was third in 39:38.65.

SCAC Championship competition begins at 9 a.m. at Trinity with finals in women's discus and women's high jump. The final event for the women, the 4x400 relay, is set for a 2:05 p.m. start. For live results as they happen, click here.

For complete coverage of the 2014 SCAC Women's Track & Field Championships, click here.