MARION, Ind. --- After the first day of competition, the Wayland Baptist track and field teams already have two individual national champions and an All-American. Sophomore Bianca Grant took first place in the long jump for her first individual title, and freshman Kennedy Kithuka lapped the entire field in the 10,000m to win ten points for the Pioneers. The Wayland men also got three points from junior Brandon Mansfield in the hammer throw.

WBU head coach Brian Whitlock was extremely pleased with both of his teams' performances on Thursday.

"It was a great day. We got in late last night (Wednesday) and I wasn't sure if it would effect the kids or not, but they did a phenomenal job. We're ahead of the pace right now. Our men already have 13 points and have a terrific chance at winning this thing. The road will be a little bit tougher for the girls, but I still think we have a good shot at the podium."

Grant, who was the top seed in the long jump competition, fouled on three of her first four jumps, but the one that she hit true was the mark that earned her the gold. The Needville, Tex. native measured 5.99 meters or 19'8" on her second jump to outdistance her closest opponent by 3-3/4 inches.

Kithuka jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. WBU head coach Brian Whitlock predicted before the race that his young Kenyan would win by at least 400 meters, and Kithuka certainly didn't disappoint as he won the race in a time of 29:31.99, a full minute and six seconds in front of the second place finisher.

In the hammer, Mansfield saved his best for last, hitting 56 meters or 183'9" on his final throw of the competition. A graduate of Jim Ned High School, Mansfield picked up his second outdoor All-American designation and third overall with the sixth place finish.

The rest of the Pioneer team did their jobs as well. All but two of the runners and all four of the relay teams that competed on Thursday advanced to the next round of competition. On the women's side, sprinters Kimberly Smith, Grant, Leandria Lee and Keliesha Ross all made it into the semi-final round of the 100-meters. Smith won her heat easily in a time of 11.72, the third-fastest of the day. Lee and Ross also moved on in the 200-meters, as did Kydia Echols, who posted one of the top times in the 800-meters.

The 4x800m relay team of Elva Pedroza, Milca Villegas, Jennifer Secrest and Echols ran a 9:09.59 to advance to tomorrow evening's finals with the best time in the trials, and the 4x100m team of Smith, Grant, Lee and Ross started the day off on the right foot by winning their heat in a time of 45.98.

"Elva and Milca both had great splits. We ran a 9:09 even with Kydia taking it easy. I think they have a good chance to run a nine flat in the finals."

As for the Pioneer men, Jerry-Lee Davis advanced in the 200-meters, Caleb McLean made it in the 400-meters, Kirby Dunn and Hildon Boen both moved on in the 800-meters, and Edward Taragon will be running in Saturday's finals in the Steeplechase.

Dunn won his heat in the 800m, while Boen finished just behind the leader in his heat. Taragon, a late entry in the Steeplechase who ran the event for the first time four weeks ago at the Sooner Athletic Conference Championships, recorded the evening's best time with a 9:10.

Davis, McLean, Myran Roundtree and Lee Prevost ran their best time of the year, 40.85, in the 4x1 relay to advance to Friday's semi-finals. In the men's 4x800, freshman Jarrod Morris got the Pioneer men off to a great start, according to Whitlock, and Lucius Lopez, Boen and Dunn maintained the advantage to get the heat win in a time of 7:36.91. It was also the best mark of the year for that group.

Friday's competition gets off the ground for the Pioneers at 1:00 p.m. ET when Roundtree competes in the long jump. The freshman is the favorite in the event. Grant returns to the sand pit at 5:30 ET to try her hand at the triple jump.

The semi-finals of the 100-meters is scheduled for 2:40 p.m. ET, followed by the 400m, the 800m, the 4x1 semis and the 100m finals. After the Senior Recognition ceremony at 5:45 ET, the finals of the 4x8 relays are scheduled. Kithuka will try to pick up his second national championship in the men's 5000m at 7:30 ET, and then the 4x400m relay teams will take to the track for the first time to close out the day, beginning with the women at 8:15.

Live video-streaming of the national meet can be seen at http://naia.cstv.com/genrel/2010MWOTFChampionship.html.