Strong, Clayborne End First Day of Competition in Ninth Place

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Veronica Clayborne and Dan Strong closed the first day of competition at the College Station Mutlis in ninth place in their respective events. Both are within striking distance of the leaders with Strong only 300 points behind the leader after the first five events of the decathlon. Strong finished the first day with 3,241 points while Clayborne had 2,737 in only the second heptathlon competition of her career.

Clayborne posted career bests for combined event competition in the 100 hurdles, the first event of the day, with a 15.45, and in the shot put with a 31-0.50. She picked up 783 points in the hurdles and 494 in the shot put. She was sixth in the high jump with a 5-3.25, good for 747 points, and was 16th in the 200 with a 26.98, good for 713 points. She finished ninth overall in the hurdles and18th in the shot put. Her first day total was within 30 points of her career best for the first day of events.

Strong had solid performances across the board. He was 13th in the 100 with a 12.07 for 637 points. His long jump of 20-7.25 was good for seventh place and 670 points. He recorded a 38-9 in the shot put, fifth overall, for 595 points. His high jump, 5-11.5, placed him seventh and gave him 644 points. He closed the day with a 52.18 in the 400, good for fourth place and 717 points. His first day total is within 100 points of his career best despite not posting any career best marks during the first day of competition.

The competition begins Friday at 10 a.m. A number of other Sooner track and field athletes will leave Norman Friday for Waco, Texas. They will compete in the Dr Pepper Invitational in Waco on Saturday.