HOUSTON -- East Carolina's women's track and field team sits in fifth place after a strong first day of the 2004 Conference USA Indoor Championships, held at the University of Houston's Bill Yeoman Field House.

ECU's men, meanwhile, are in eighth after day one, but many of the Pirates' strongest events are yet to come.

The Lady Pirates received team-scoring top eight finishes from five different performances, including a dominating three scoring performances in the pole vault.

Considered one of the team's biggest threats coming into the meet, the ECU women's pole vault corps produced three scoring individuals -- a fourth-place finish by freshman Lindsey Rosales (3.65m), a fifth-place showing by Tammie Mentzel (3.65m), and an eighth-place vault by Kinsey Batts (3.50m).

Also scoring for the Lady Pirates was Alisha Hopkins, who placed third in the long jump by clearing 5.68m. In addition, the distance medley relay team, comprised of Tara DeBrielle, Simone Baptiste, Rebekah Bishop, and Jessica Collins, placed sixth (12.23.68).

DeBrielle also qualified for Saturday's finals in the 800-meter run as her time of 2:15.49 was the sixth-fastest in qualifying.

ECU's men scored in just two events on Friday -- the weight throw and the distance medley relay -- but had four individuals qualify for Saturday's finals in their respective events.

In the men's weight throw, freshman Eric Frasure had ECU's best finish of the day as he placed second with a throw of 17.37m. Mayso Porch also scored in the event, clearing 14.59m to place seventh.

The distance medley relay team, featuring Kristian Jorgensen, Jeff Walls, Vance Stephenson, and Craig Schmidt, placed fourth with a clocking of 10:22.63.

Advancing from Friday's preliminaries for ECU are Damarcus Fox in the 60-meter dash (6.78), Darrus Cofield in the 400 (49.19), and Ricardo Bell (1:56.37) and Stephenson (1:56.88) in the 800.

After day one, USF currently leads the women's C-USA field, while Marquette has a narrow lead on the men's side.

ECU FRIDAY RESULTS: WOMEN

60 Meters
24. Darneshea Jones      7.95 (prelims)
30. Kelsey Walker        8.16 (prelims)

60-Meter Hurdles
17. Nicole Callaham      9.41 (prelims)

200 Meters
22. Darneshea Jones      25.82 (prelims)
35. Kelsey Walker        27.23 (prelims)

800 Meters
 6. Tara DeBrielle       2:15.49Q (prelims)
24. Lauren Miller        2:27.99 (prelims)
25. Brie Berkowitz       2:28.69 (prelims)

5,000 Meters
 9. Johanna Allen        17.51.90

Distance Medley Relay
 6. DeBrielle, Baptiste, 12:23.68
    Bishop, Collins

Pole Vault
 4. Lindsey Rosales      3.65m
 5. Tammie Mentzel       3.65m
 8. Kinsey Batts         3.50m
19. Nicole Marchewka     3.05m

Long Jump
 3. Alisha Hopkins       5.68m
24. Jenee Moore          5.13m

Weight Throw
14. Jessica Georgio      13.99m 
15. Emily Thompson       13.52m 
19. Chelsea Salisbury    12.20m

Pentathlon
12. Sharon Heilig        2713 points


ECU FRIDAY RESULTS: MEN

60 Meters
 6. Damarcus Fox         6.78Q (prelims)

60-Meter Hurdles
 9. Hector Cotto         8.35 (prelims)
10. Ronnie Pollard       8.42 (prelims)

200 Meters
10. DeAndre Hyman        22.46 (prelims)

400 Meters
 8. Darrus Cofield       49.19Q (prelims)
 9. Michael Hillian      49.37 (prelims)
10. BJ Henderson         49.48 (prelims)

800 Meters
 3. Ricardo Bell         1:56.37Q (prelims)
 8. Vance Stephenson     1:56.88Q (prelims)
16. Trent Fuchs          1:59.82 (prelims)
19. Kyle Yunaska         2:05.42 (prelims)

5,000 Meters
15. Stephen Tausend      16:06.78

Distance Medley Relay
 4. Jorgensen, Walls,    10:22.63
    Stephenson, Schmidt

Long Jump
11. Renaldo Isaac        6.70m

Weight Throw
 2. Eric Frasure         17.37m
 7. Mayso Porch          14.59m