DELAWARE, Ohio – Halfway through the men's decathlon, George Fox University's David Dillow stands eighth out of 19 participants, the top performance by Bruin athletes on the first day of competition in the 2011 NCAA Division III National Championships which got under way Thursday here at Ohio Wesleyan University's Selby Field/Gauthier Track.

Dillow scored 3,364 points to earn his place, while twin brother Nate Dillow stood 15th with 3,173 points.  The current leaderis Richard Roethel of Christopher Newport University, who holds a 22-point lead over Ethan Miller of Central College (Iowa) 3,889 to 3,867.

David built his score by placing ninth in the 100 meter dash (11.50), sixth in the long jump (21-2.5/ 6.48m), 15th in the shot put (35-5.75 / 10.81m), tied for 12th in the high jump (5-10 / 1.78m), and sixth in the 400 meter dash (50.88).  Nate finished fifth in the 100 (11.32), 12th in the long jump (20-0.5/ 6.11m), 19th in the shot put (32-6.5 / 9.92m), 18th in the high jump (5-5.25 / 1.66m), and fourth in the 400 (50.79).

Decathlon events Friday, which begin at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time, include the 110 meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1,500 meter run.

In the women's heptathlon, the Bruins' Alexis Arnold was 14th out of 22 athletes with 2,691 points after four events, and Beth Stam was 20th with 2,601 points.  The first-day leader was Emma Dewart of Ithaca College with 3,079, 112 points ahead of Kelly Curtis of Springfield College.

In the opening 100 meter hurdles, Stam was 20th (16.23) and Arnold 22nd (16.48).  In the high jump, Arnold tied for 10th (5-0.5 / 1.54m) while Stam was tied for 14th (4-11.5 / 1.51m).  Stam won the shot put (38-4.25 /11.69m) while Arnold came in ninth (34-2.75 / 10.43m).  In the final event of the day, the 200 meter dash, Arnold took second (26.85) and Stam was 22nd (27.86).

In the 4x100 relays, the George Fox women's team of Emily Davison, Irene Johnson, Melissa Leighty and Arnold ran a 47.96 to finish 14th out of 16 teams.  The best eight times qualified for the finals on Saturday, with the last time qualifying a 47.66 by St. Thomas University (Minn.).  The Bruins' best time of 47.76, a school record, would still have come up a bit short.

Heptathlon events on Friday, which will begin at 12:00 noon Eastern time, include the long jump, javelin throw, and 800 meter run.  Johnson will enter the preliminaries for the 100 hurdles Friday at 6:45 p.m.

Complete results of the first day of competition in the NCAA Division III National Championships may be found on line at http://bishops.owu.edu/ncaatf/index.html.