MARION, IN --

The highlight of day one at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Outdoor Track & Field National Championships was Marcus Watson's fourth place, and Andy White's sixth place finish in the final of the men's javelin throw.

Both earned All-American recognition for placing in the top-six. The freshman Watson was in the second of two flights, and threw 60.37-meters on his second toss of the day. White, a sophomore, threw in the first flight, and achieved a mark of 59.72-meters on his fourth throw. Andrew Kolodinski, a junior from Westmont, threw 67.27-meters to win the competition.

On the track, the senior Nigel Hole earned an automatic qualifying spot in the men's 1500-meter final, finishing a comfortable fourth in the first of two preliminary heats. Hole clocked 3:56.71, and finished with the seventh fastest time on the day. He now advances to the final on Saturday at 12:10PM PST.

Not so lucky were Jordan Smith, a junior, who finished tenth in the first heat at 4:00.36, and Wyatt Baiton, a freshman, who was ninth in the second heat at 4:01.45; neither advances to the finals.

In the men's 800-meters, David Slade finished eighth (1:57.60) in heat three of four, and will not advance to the semi-finals.

And in the 3000-meter steeplechase, Jordan Maynard ran 9:43.60 to place 11th in the second of two heats, but did not advance either.

The men currently sit tied in sixth place with Embry-Riddle in the team competition, with eight points.