CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College outdoor track and field opened the first day of the Gulf South Conference Championships with an impressive showing in the abbreviated schedule. After two events scored, the Choctaw men sit in second place with the women in third place.
 
The men and women's 10,000 meters were postponed and moved to Saturday, May 6 at 8 a.m.
 
Christian Balcer grabbed the first podium appearance of the Championships for the Choctaws. The freshman posted a personal record in the men's 3,000 steeplechase as he clocked a 9:13.25 to bring home the bronze medal.
 
Bre Bell and Al Ferrill narrowly missed the podium for the Navy and Gold. Bell finished fourth in the women's steeple as she turned in a PR time of 11:39.01. Teammate Ava Dickerson finished in fifth with a time of 11:41.56.
 
Ferrill posted a fourth-place finish in the men's hammer throw. The junior recorded a distance of 48.14 meters. The Tickfaw, La., native was one of three Choctaws in the event finals. Christopher Garcia-Cloud finished seventh (44.17m) while Derius Franklin finished 11th (37.00m). Dylan Hale finished 13th (33.11m).
 
Three Choctaws recorded top 10 finishes in the women's hammer. Victoria Myles led the trio with a seventh-place finish with a toss of 41.12 meters. Kiara Vance finished eighth (40.60m) followed by Sakari Faulkner in ninth (39.81m).
 
Tytavia Hardy and Kelechi Christian secured their spots in the women's 200 meters while Fabio Palmieri earned his spot in the men's 200. Christian won her heat in a time of 24.57. Hardy ran a PR time of 24.67 to join her teammate in the finals.
 
Palmieri ran a 21.49 to win his prelim in the 200m.
 
Shemar Patten ran a 21.96 to finish 11th in the 200 while Will Grames posted a 22.04 to finish 13th. Ezra McCaw clocked a 25.19 to finish 12th in the women's 200m.
 
Day Two of the Championships are scheduled to start at 8 a.m., with the men's 5,000 meters.