VILLANOVA, Pa. – Day one of the 2009 BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championships kicked off on Friday with the women’s heptathlon and the men’s decathlon.

After the first day of competition, Connecticut currently has four Huskies within the top-five of the decathlon. Freshman Ben Waruch is in first place with 3,718 points. Waruch took first place in the 100 meter (11.30) and the long jump (6.65m). The freshman also tied for second in the high jump (1.91m) and placed third in both the shot put (12.75m) and the 400 meter (49.96). Senior Sean Smith is in second place with 3,638 points. Smith placed first in the high jump (1.94m). The senior also placed fourth in the 100 meter (11.45m), shot put (12.60m) and 400 meter (50.49). In the long jump, Smith placed fifth with a jump of 6.47 meters. Freshman Jacob Waruch is in third place with 3,562 points. Waruch took first place in the 400 meter (49.42) and tied for second with his brother in the high jump (1.91m). 

Junior Uhunoma Osazuwa of Syracuse is currently in first place in the heptathlon. Osazuwa has tallied 3,359 points through four events after taking first-place in three events. The junior placed first in the 100-meter hurdles (13.88), high jump (1.76m) and the 200 meter (25.23). She placed fourth in the shot put (10.62m). Right behind Osazuwa is junior Jasmine Cotten of Cincinnati. Cotten, the reigning indoor pentathlon champion, stands in second place with 3,210 points. Cotten tied for second-place in the high jump (1.73m) and placed third in both the 100-meter hurdles (14.21) and shot put (10.95). In the 200 meters, Cotten placed fifth in 26.22. Freshman Maddie Buttinger of Notre Dame rounds out the top-three with 3,195 points.

Action at the 2009 BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championships continues on Saturday at 9 a.m. Fans can follow all the action of the 2009 BIG EAST Outdoor Track and Field Championships live online at www.bigeast.org.