CANTON, N.Y. -- The first day of the 2015 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships was completed on Thursday (5/21) at St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y.

Nebraska Wesleyan had four athletes compete on the first day of the championships.  Senior Brock Taute led the way for the Prairie Wolves.  Taute ran a time of 9:18.05 in the preliminaries of the 3,000 Steeplechase to advance to the finals on Saturday.  Taute was fourth in his heat and had the eighth fastest time overall as he will race again Saturday at 12:50.  Taute is looking for his first All-America honor after placing 10th in the finals last season.

Three NWU women also competed in events on Thursday.  The first event of the day was the women's discus as Samantha Dolezal and SteaVen Becker took part in the competition.  Becker had a career best toss of 150-1 to place 11th in the discus and is the fourth best throw in school history.  Dolezal was 12th overall with a toss of 148-5.  She will go for All-America honors later this weekend in the shot put.

Katie Krick ran in the preliminaries of the 200 meter dash but did not qualify for the finals.  Krick ran a time of 25.71 to place 20th overall.

Friday's competition will begin at Noon at St. Lawrence University.