GULF SHORES , Alabama —Thanks to a 1-2 finish in the 10,000 meters by Jackie Regan and Amelie de Fenoyl, the University of British Columbia took the early lead in Day 1 of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) national championships at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium on Thursday night.

            Regan and de Fenoyl broke away from the pack with about four laps to go and finished with times of 35 minutes, 58.82 seconds and 36:01.97 respectively. Kate Bouvatte of CSU San Marcos was third in 26:27.44.

            After Thursday’s competition, UBC led with 23 points, followed by Bethel ( Ind. ) with 20.50 and Concordia ( Nebraska ) and Hastings with 16.50 and 15.50 points respectively.

            A 1-2-3 finish in the men’s hammer throw gave Concordia of Oregon a 29-14 lead over Oklahoma City in Day 1. The Concordia trio of Darien Moore, Adam Riddle, and Nate Moses became the first individuals to sweep a men’s event. Moore threw 211 feet, ¾ inch, Riddle 205-11 ¾, and Moses 198-8.

            The only other team to sweep an event was former NAIA member Simon Fraser, which swept the first three spots in the women’s 800 in 2010.

            It was on a day where there was a pair of repeat champions, as well as a few surprises.

            Embry-Riddle’s Reta Woodard defended her title in the women’s hammer throw with a throw of 181-11, holding off a pair of Harding ( Neb. ) competitors—McKayla Gowen and Jennifer Maag—who threw 178-10 ¼ and 177-6 ¾ respectively.

            Oklahoma Baptist’s Akela Jones defended her 2013 title in the women’s long jump, winning easily with a jump of 21-6. Jones, who got her winning mark early in the competition, then passed on her final few attempts.

            Six competitors cleared 12-1 ¾ (3.70 meters) in the women’s pole vault, but in the end, it was Stephanie Techler of Southern Oregon who came out on top based on a tiebreaker. Techler cleared the winning height on her first attempt, while Kate Carr of Bethel ( Ind. ) finished second because she missed on her first attempt.

            Wiley’s ( Texas ) John Ampomah just missed the national record in the men’s javelin of 247-7 when he threw 244-2. In the women’s javelin, Concordia’s ( Neb ) Elizabeth King won with a throw of 164-8. And in the men’s 10,000, Oklahoma City ’s Czaba Matko broke away from the field with a blistering kick in the final lap to win in 30:34.11, ahead of Dylan Reeves of St. Francis, Ill. (30:45.41) and Trinity Christian’s ( Ill. ) Andy Reidsma (30:48.44).

            Other highlights from Day 1 included:

 

Action continues today with the conclusion of the women’s heptathlon and the men’s decathlon.