HIGH POINT, N.C. – A personal-record setting time by Alan Deogracias set the pace for the rest of the pack Monday, as the Charleston Southern distance runner claimed medalist honors in the 10,000 meters to highlight day one of the Bucs' competition at the Big South Championships at Vert Stadium in High Point, North Carolina.

TOP-THREE ALL-TIME BEST
Deogracias put himself in front of the other 14 runners in the last event of the evening, crossing the finish line in 30:10.48 to not only set a personal record but also clock the third-fastest time in the event in program history. A year ago at the same meet, he just missed out on all-conference honors by garnering a fourth-place result.

MORE PRS FOLLOWED
The other three Buccaneers in the event all also established new personal-record times. Jaden Kingsley was the next CSU runner, tallying a fifth-place time for the second-straight year with his 30:29.04, while Timothy Depue was in the Top 10 with a ninth-place time of 31:34.55. Evan Crawford rounded out the group in 13th with his time of 32:28.20.

FIRST CHANCE TO SHOW THEIR STUFF
Each of the other three track events held preliminaries to set up the finals heats. The best results in the blue and gold came in the 1500 meters, as Fearghal Curtin was second (3:51.59), Jaymee Domoney in fifth (3:57.76), Micah Gilpatric in sixth (3:57.79) and Andrew Akright in ninth (3:59.25).

Luiciano Custodio was the only Charleston Southern participant in the 400-meter hurdles, placing 10th with a time of 55.97. Likewise, Shawn Langley Jr. was the only Bucs competitor in the 200-meter dash, finishing 12th with a time of 21.60.

MINIMAL START IN THE FIELD EVENTS
In the field events, only two Buccaneers registered marks led by Holden Gerth's ninth-place toss of 49.70 (163'1") in the javelin. Michael Calhoun placed 10th in the hammer with a distance of 45.33m (148'8").

TEAM START
Boosted by Deogracias' event win, Charleston Southern is fourth in the team standings through Monday's competition with 14 points. Five events were scored on the championships' first day.

UP NEXT
Action resumes Tuesday with more events and chances for the Buccaneers to climb the team leaderboard in pursuit of the title.

FULL CHARLESTON SOUTHERN RESULTS
Hammer Throw (13 athletes)
             Michael Calhoun           10^th      45.33m (148'8")
            Nathan Myers               13^th      FOUL
Javelin (15 athletes)
             Holden Gerth                9^th        49.70m (163'1")
200-Meter Dash preliminaries (25 athletes)
             Shawn Langley Jr.        12^th      21.60
400-Meter Hurdles preliminaries (17 athletes)
             Luciano Custodio          10^th      55.97
1500 Meters preliminaries (17 athletes)
             Fearghal Curtin             2^nd        3:51.59
            Jaymee Domoney         5^th        3:57.76
            Micah Gilpatic               6^th        3:57.79
            Andrew Akright             9^th        3:59.25
10,000 Meters (15 athletes)
             Alan Deogracias           1^st        30:10.48
            Jaden Kingsley             5^th        30:29.04
            Timothy Depue             9^th        31:34.55
            Evan Crawford              13^th      32:38.20

TEAM STANDINGS – DAY ONE (FIVE EVENTS SCORED)
1. High Point                 70
2. Campbell                  53
3. USC Upstate             23
4. Charleston Southern  14
T5. Gardner-Webb        10
T5. North Carolina A&T 10
7. UNC Asheville           9
8. Hampton                   5
9. Winthrop                   0