CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- East Carolina University's De'Von Carter opened the 2003 Conference USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a bang on Thursday evening as he shattered the school record in the hammer throw. Only a limited number of Pirate men and women competed on Thursday; the full squad swings into competition on Friday.

Carter immediately got the Pirates on the scoreboard by placing second in the hammer with a toss of 178-10. That mark was over five feet better than the previous record of 173-03, which Carter set this past April.

Teammate Mayso Porch also notched points for ECU in the hammer as he was eighth at 153-02.

After Thursday's limited events, the Pirate men are in fourth place. Competition continues through Saturday.

The ECU women, meanwhile, did not get on the scoreboard as only one athlete -- field specialist Jennifer Aull -- saw action on Thursday. Aull placed 11th in the women's hammer with a mark of 140-02.

Competition resumes on Friday morning at 9 a.m. at Charlotte's Irwin Belk Track and Field Center.