LYNCHBURG, Va. – Antonio Wood posted a personal best in the long jump and Hartnel Paultre finished seventh in the 10,000-meters, leading the VMI men's track and field team on the the opening day of the Big South Outdoor Track and Field Championships, contested Thursday at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

Wood got the Keydets on the board early, recording a fourth-place finish in the long jump by stretching the tape to 7.22 meters (23'8 ¼”), besting his previous personal best by just .01 meters. The effort was an IC4A qualifying mark. Paultre, meanwhile, clocking in at 31:44.54 to finish seventh in the 10K and notch his first career individual points at a Big South Championship. The effort was a 52-second personal best for Paultre.

As a team, the Keydets are in eighth after four events, having scored seven points. VMI is a tight group of teams from fifth through ninth that is separated by just five points. Liberty leads the overall standings with 50 points, 24 markers up on Coastal Carolina and 27 ahead of Charleston Southern.

Wood was also in action in day one of the decathlon Thursday, and the senior holds a seven-point lead after the opening day, thanks to 3,661 points. He recorded the top marks in the high jump (1.99 M/6'6 ¼”) and long jump (6.95 M/22'9 ¾”), events in which current second place competitor Tristan Faure of High Point finished second. Wood also had the quickest time in the 100-meter dash (10.92 seconds). Teammate Quincy Murphy goes into day two in fourth, having scored 3,418 markers.

“Antonio Wood had a good day today,” said VMI head coach Darrin Webb. “He was able to get off to a good start in the decathlon despite this being his first of the season, and also rose to the occasion in the long jump. Hartnel Paultre had a breakthrough, gutsy run as well to score points in the 10K.”

VMI track and field will return to action Friday, competing in day two of the Big South Championships. Action gets underway at 9 a.m., a change from the previous schedule due to possible inclement weather.