The High Point University women's track & field team defended their title in the distance medley relay with a win in the event for the second consecutive year at the Big South Indoor Championship. The women are in fifth place after day one of competition.

“The win in the DMR is a major accomplishment,” said head coach Mike Esposito. “Joya Canfield finished really strong in the 1,600-meter leg and really everyone did their job. Manika Gamble also had a great day with two personal records and three qualifiers.”

The distance medley relay team of Canfield, Geneva Winterink, Vanessa Piacente and Gamble finished in 12:08.34.

Gamble qualified for the finals of the 60-meter hurdles and 60- and 200-meter runs. She set personal records in the 60-meter dash (7.87) and the 60-meter hurdles (8.70). Gamble won her heat of the 60-hurdles as well as her heat of the 200-meter with a time of 25.34.

Piacente and Canfield qualified for the finals of the 800-meter with Canfield winning her heat in 2:17.20. Piacente finished in 2:19.99.

For the second straight year Christina Fenske finished in second place in the high jump in the Indoor Championship, clearing 5'4.25.

The Panthers resume competition for the final day of the Big South Indoor Championship on Sunday in Clemson, S.C.