Bronx, N.Y. - (Jan. 26, 2012) -  Day one of the 2012 Metropolitan Indoor Track & Field Championship took place at Manhattan College's Draddy Gymnasium with five events in the books, while the sixth event, the men's heptathlon is just past the halfway point.

The Rams had seven competitors in the first six events and were led by junior Daniel Chediak and sophomore Sam Houston. Chediak scored in the men's pole vault event, placing eighth with a height of 13' 9 1/4", while Houston is second overall in the heptathlon through four events with a score of 2,808 points. Houston trails only Southern Connecticut State's Nick Lebron by just 59 points.

Houston began the heptathlon by taking fourth in the 60 meter dash in 7.49 seconds, while taking second in the high jump, clearing a season-best 6' 5 1/2". He then won the long jump event with a career-best jump of 21' 10 ¼" and took third in the shot put, which also saw a career-best performance with a mark of 38' ¼".

In addition to Chediak and Houston, Tim Derocher placed 12th in the pole vault (12' 9 1/2"), while Stephen Courtney (37' 5 3/4") and Austin Ruiz (35' 5 3/4") were 17th and 19th, respectively, in the weight throw event. Blair Hassell was the lone women's competitor, as she placed 13th in the weight throw with a distance of 33' 1 1/4".

Day two of the Metropolitan Championship will take place on Friday, January 27th, at the Armory Track & Field Center, beginning at 4:00 PM.