TULSA, Okla. - The Western Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships began on Wednesday at Tulsa's Hurricane Track and Soccer Stadium with the men's decathlon and women's heptathlon. On a windy day with temperature reaching 90 degrees, Hawai`i's Bianca DeBartolo and six other women competed for the coveted heptathlon title.

After Day 1, the Bondi, New South Wales native, stands in fourth place after tallying 2,841 points. DeBartolo's point total set a UH heptathlon record for first day score, easily surpassing Nicole Haffka's mark of 2,753 set at the 2002 WAC Championships.

Katie Christianson of Fresno State leads the event with 3,217 points after winning three of the day's four events (100m hurdles, high jump, and 200m).

In the 100m hurdles, DeBartolo finished fourth with a lifetime-best and wind-aided heptathlon event school-record 14.76 seconds. Moments later she leaped 1.50m (4-11) in the high jump, also setting a personal-best. In the shot put, the freshman posted the third-farthest throw of 11.00m (36-1.25) and finished the day by running a lifetime-best 26.53 seconds in the 200m.

DeBartolo trails Louisiana Tech's Amber Metoyer by 72 points for third place entering Day 2. The heptathlon concludes on Thursday with the long jump, javelin, and 800m run.

The preliminary rounds of the running and field events begin on Friday with the finals scheduled for Saturday. The Rainbow Wahine are seeking their highest finish ever at the WAC Championships. Currently their highest finish is eighth (2001) and highest point total is 49 (2002).

WAC Championships Day 1 Results

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