Lillejord 10th After Day One of NCAA Heptathlon

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - In his first national meet appearance on Friday at the NCAA Indoor Championships, North Dakota State junior Andy Lillejord showed no sign of nerves. He used a strong all-around performance to rack up 3,149 points and stand in 10th place through the first four events of the heptathlon.

Lillejord's 3,149 points are 50 more than his previous first-day best of 3,099, which was achieved on Feb. 24 at the Summit League Indoor Championships on his way to a new school record in the heptathlon.

Kevin Lazas of Arkansas leads the heptathlon with 3,449 points. Lillejord stands 21 points behind ninth place and 38 points out of eighth place.

Lillejord got off to a tremendous start on Friday, posting the second-fastest 60m dash time in the 16-man field at 6.98 seconds. That time also matched the second-fastest 60m time of his career.

Lillejord recorded a lifetime-best leap of 24-00.75 (7.33m) on his second attempt in the long jump, ranking fifth among the field and also No. 5 all-time at NDSU.

The junior from Jamestown, N.D., registered the second-best shot put mark of his career at 41-10.75 (12.77m), and concluded the day by clearing 6-02.75 (1.90m) in the high jump - his second-best clearance this season.

The top eight finishers will earn first-team All-American status. Lillejord is aiming to join Matt Bishoff (heptathlon, 2009) as the only men's Division I All-Americans in NDSU history.

The heptathlon will conclude with the 60m hurdles, pole vault and 1000m on Saturday. Action begins with the 60m hurdles at 11 a.m.