AUSTIN- The Texas A&M-Kingsville track and field program concluded its first day of competition at the 95th Annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at Mike A. Meyers Stadium on Thursday, with five student-athletes in action on the campus of Texas.

Sophomore Thomas Nieto placed fifth in the pole vault while representing the lone NCAA Division II student-athlete to place inside the top 10. The Columbian cleared a bar set at 5.31m (17-5) on his third attempt to surpass Skyler Magula of California and place fifth. Additionally, Nieto was the only non-Power Five competitors to clear 17 feet. 

In the women's 400m hurdles, freshman Amber Gonzalez clocked in at 1:02.96 to collect 30th, just edging out Adael Scatema of Oregon State, while fellow newcomer Jasmyn Tulloch was slotted 69th after finishing the race in 1:06.96. 

The men's iteration on the 400m hurdles saw sophomore Ja'Qualon Scott run a time of 50.90 to win the timed final, as junior Gabriel Field took 10th in 53.24.

Sophomore Blake Gordon also competed on Thursday, placing sixth in the pole vault at the Bobcat Invitational at the Texas State Track and Field Stadium in San Marcos, Texas. He surpassed a height of 4.85m (15-11) on his final attempt to tie a pair of athletes from Ohio State as well as one from Texas State and two from Louisiana. 

Scott and Field will be back in the Capital City on Friday as they compete in the 110m hurdles, shortly after sophomore Kennedi Silmon enters the women's 100m hurdles. 

Meanwhile, senior Shaun Gill will join freshman Martina Stanchi as the pair compete in their 100m dash divisions. Also in action, the men's and women's 4x400m relay squads will compete in running events beginning at 9:35 a.m. 

 To keep up-to-date with Javelina track and field, follow the program on Facebook at /JavelinaSports, Twitter @JavelinaTFXC, and on Instagram @JavelinaTFXC