MARIETTA, Ohio – University of Southern Maine senior and Lewiston native James Spaulding sits in seventh place in the decathlon after the first day of competition at the 2009 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National Championships being held at Marietta College.

After five events, Spaulding has amassed 3,573 total points, 249 points behind first-day leader Josh Lovell of Linfield College. Spaulding is 58 points ahead of his school record pace set three weeks ago at the New England Division III Championships.

Spaulding opened the competition running the 100-meter dash in 11.55 seconds to earn 742 points. He followed with a jump of 6.68 meters (21 feet, 11 inches) in the long jump to add 739 to his total. In the third event of the day, the shot put, he placed second among the competitors with a throw of 13.97 meters (45 feet, 10 inches) for 727 more points.

He added 644 points after clearing 1.82 meters (5-11 1/2) in the high jump. Spaulding closed the day running the 400 meters in 52.08 seconds for 721 points.

Bates College junior Rich McNeil finished eigth in the hammer throw competition.

This was the second All-American honor in McNeil’s collegiate career.

McNeil, of Lawrence, Mass., reached a top distance of 117 feet, 11 inches on his final throw of the day. He was the ninth and final thrower out of 17 competitors to reach the finals. McNeil earned a team point for the Bates men’s track and field team, which is now finished for the year.

McNeil was the 10th seed in the 17-man field, with a top throw of 181 feet, two inches during the regular season. He missed the entire indoor season this year with a foot injury.

Vantiel Elizabeth Duncan, of Topsham, earned her third career All-America award, finishing fifth in the hammer throw.

Duncan’s first throw of the day (171 feet, six inches), qualified her for the nine-athlete final, and eventually stood as her best. It is her first outdoor All-America award, after twice achieving the feat at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the weight throw.

Also on Thursday, Bates senior Izzy Alexander competed in the preliminary heats of the 400-meter hurdles, and earned the eighth and final spot in the finals, winning the third heat in a time of 1:01.94, 0.16 seconds behind her personal best mark of 1:01.78, set when she broke the New England Division III Outdoor Championship meet record three weeks ago.

Alexander will only need to finish Friday’s race to assure herself a fifth and final career All-America award.