RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Junior Madison Lanford, sophomore Lauren McCluskey, and freshman Piper Wehrli opened the UC Riverside Invitational with the heptathlon events on Thursday for the Utah track and field team.
 
"Solid day one in the first heptathlon of the year for this group," said head coach Kyle Kepler. "Hopefully they can perform well tomorrow and move up in the standings."

Utah's three athletes competing in the heptathlon competed in the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, and 200-meter dash on the first day of competition.
 
McCluskey finished seventh overall in the shot put when she recorded a personal best mark of 35'9". McCluskey also finished in a tie for sixth in the high jump (5'1.75"), 19th in the 100-meter hurdles (16.40), and 19^th in the 200-meter dash (28.40), which is also a personal best.
 
Lanford finished 10^th in the 200-meter dash (26.67), 14^th in the shot put after recording a personal best mark of 32'10", 17^th in the 100-meter hurdles (16.18), and 18^th in the high jump (4'7.75").
 
Wehrli finished in a tie for 10^th place in the high jump (5'.5"), 20^th in the shot put (25'11"), 20^th in the 100-meter hurdles (16.76), and 20^th in the 200-meter dash (29.42).
 
The Utes will finish the remaining heptathlon events beginning at 12 p.m. PT on Friday. Other members of the Utah track and field team will open competition at the UC Riverside Invitational on Saturday.