Five Peach Belt Conference student athletes competed in day one of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday. Augusta's Gabriel Best, Clayton State's Davonte Jackson, Embry-Riddles Luke Richardson and USC Beaufort's Samuel Mitchell and Jakori Herring each opened up competition on the national stage in Emporia, Kansas. 

Embry-Riddle's Luke Richardson highlighted the day for PBC athletes as he competed in the 100 meter dash preliminary round. Richardson finished second overall out of the 22 competitors with a time of 10.38, qualifying him for Saturday's final. Richardson will also compete in the preliminary round of the 200 meter dash on Friday afternoon. 

Jackson and Mitchell opened the day for PBC athletes as they both competed in the long jump. In a field of 22 athletes who qualified for nationals during the season, Mitchell placed 13th overall, finishing the season ranked 13th in all of Division II, earning second team All-American honors. His best mark for the meet was 7.16m. Jackson placed 20th overall with a best mark of 6.86m. 

The overall winner of the event was Alex Meyer of Indianapolis, followed by Anton Kopytko and Jalen McGee to round out the top three. Mitchell will close out the season on Saturday afternoon during day three of the NCAA Championship meet, competing in the triple jump at 3:15 p.m. ET.

Augusta's Gabriel Best competed in the preliminary round of the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Best finished with a time of 9:13.34, leaving him in ninth place of eleven competitors in his heat and 20th overall. USC Beaufort's Jakori Herring did not finish his race. 

Nine PBC athletes will compete at the championships on Friday.