TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Missouri State track and field team started the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship strong on Friday at Indiana State, scoring 11 points on opening day to sit in fourth place.
 
Bears' fifth-year standout Cheyenne White brought home the first medal of the championship for MoState with a third-place finish in javelin. White threw for 42.40-meters and scored six points for the Bears. Jaide Rose finished fifth in the event with an attempt of 40.71-meters and scored four points.
 
In the 1500-meter run prelims, Mary Margaret Harris was the first across the line. The junior qualified for Sunday's final with a personal record of 4:30.18.
 
In the first running event of the day, the Bears had two athletes advance to Sunday's finals. Magdalena Burdova qualified third in the 400-meter hurdles and finished first in Heat 1, while Meghan Halstead finished second in Heat 3 with a time of 1:02.22.
 
Riley Bryan scored the Bears' final point of the day with her eighth-place finish in the 10,000-meter run. In her first time competing in this event, Bryan finished with a time of 36:16.16.
 
"We had a tremendous day one led by Cheyenne and Jaide's Performances in the javelin," head coach Jordan Fife said. "It's always nice to out-perform our ranking in the first event to set the tone for everyone else. Magdalena and Meghan took care of business in the 400-meter hurdles and then Mary Margaret ran the race of her life to put herself in the 1500-meter run final. Riley's gutsy effort in her first ever 10k to get on the board was the perfect way to finish off the night."
 
Competition for the Bears will continue Saturday with the long jump at 2:30 p.m. cst. Missouri State also has competitors in seven other events on Day Two.
   
Team Results
1. Belmont – 44
2. Indiana State – 43
3. Drake – 32
4. Missouri State – 11
5. Illinois State – 9
6. Bradley – 7
7. Murray State – 6
8. Northern Iowa – 4
9. Evansville – 0
10. Southern Illinois – 0
11. Valparaiso – 0
12. UIC – 0
 
Individual Results
200-Meter Dash
11. Olivia Rogers – 24.74
 
1500-Meter Run
1. Mary Margaret Harris – 4:30.18 – PR
 
10,000-Meter Run
8. Riley Bryan – 36:16.16
14. Grace Spoonhour – 38:18.42
 
400-Meter Hurdles
3. Magdalena Burdova – 1:01.75
5. Meghan Halstead – 1:02.22
13. Mirabella Redman – 1:04.79 – PR
 
Javelin
3. Cheyenne White – 42.40m
5. Jaide Rose – 40.71m