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RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Tori Edwards finished third in two of the heptathlon's first four events on Friday and is in sixth place after the opening day of competition of the Big West Multi-Event Championships at UC Riverside.

Edwards has 2,802 points and is within immediate striking distance of the three competitors just above her in the standings. Senior Murphy Nicholson is in 13th place with 2,470 points. Hawk Hammer is the lone Aggie in the decathlon and is currently in 15th place with 2,604 points.

"Today was a true battle," said Aggie multi-events coach Marshall Ackley. "We didn't come out of the gate as we wanted so we had some ground to make up. The multis are competing very well and it's anyone's game."

The multi-event meet serves as the official start of the Big West Track and Field Championships which will be held at UC Riverside next weekend and will award the event's first team points.

Edwards is hoping to get the UC Davis women on the scoreboard by finishing in the top eight. She's in a tight group from third through eighth that is separated by 82 points. Jazmine Harper (2,823) of UC Riverside, and Marie Veale (2,863) and Marissa Rossi (2.875) of CSUN are just above her.

Edwards scored 2,684 points on the first day of the Chico Multi Classic in March - her only other heptathlon this season - and used some strong finishes to surpass that total on Friday. She was third in both the high jump and shot put for her highest finishes, scoring 678 points in the former and then adding 562 points by throwing the shot 34 feet, 5 inches in the latter. Edwards was ninth in the 100-meter hurdles (15.52) and then eighth in the concluding 200 (26.70).

"Tori is in sixth place and we have some work to do tomorrow," said Ackley. "She is in a great position to make a difference for our team and in this conference. Tori had a few PRs today in the high jump (5-1) and won her heat in the 200."

Nicholson's best finish was in the shot put in which she took 10th with a mark of 29-8 that garnered her 467 points. Her highest point total came hurdles where she picked up 736 with her time of 15.82 seconds.

"Murphy is competing in her last heptathlon as an Aggie and doing well." said Ackley. "She is 13th and only a few hundred points out of scoring position."

Hammer's two best events on the first day of the decathlon came in the shot put and high jump. He was 10th in the shot put with a mark of 36-10.5 and then tied for 13th in the high jump. Hammer scored his most points in the opening 100-meter dash which gave him 651 points.

"Hawk is working through an ankle injury and has been a fierce competitor." Ackley said. "He has refused to stop and wants to finish all 10 events. He told me it's about pride at this point, not just points. Tomorrow is his highlight day with the vault and javelin and we will be ready. Anything is possible tomorrow with a positive mindset and aggressive plan to succeed."

The heptathlon will conclude on Saturday with the long jump, javelin and 800. The decathlon will continue with the 110 high hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500.

"If we compete well it's anyone's chance," said Ackley. "The weather isn't perfect but it makes the competition about heart and not just talent."

BIG WEST MULTI-EVENT CHAMPIONSHIPS
Riverside, Calif. (hosted by UC Riverside)
Day 1 or 2
UC Davos results

WOMEN
HEPTATHLON (thru four events) - 1. Olympia Jewett, CSN, 3,049 pts... 8. Tori Edwards, 2,802 pts. (100H - 15.52, 774 pts; HJ - 1.55m (5-01.00), 678 pts; SP - 10.49m (34-05.00), 562 pts; 200 - 26.70); 13. Murphy Nicholson, 2,470 pts, (100H - 15.82, 736 pts; HJ - 1.46m (4-09.50), 577 pts; SP - 9.04m (29-08.00), 467 pts; 200 - 27.27, 690 pts).

MEN
DECATHLON (thru five events) - 1. Teddy Scranton, 3,546 points... 15. Hawk Hammer, 2,604 pts. (100 - 12.00, 651 pts; LJ - 5.39 (17-08.25), 459 pts; SP - 11.24m (36-10.50), 560 pts; HJ - 1.64m (5-04.50), 496 pts); 400 - 59.28.