JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Mississippi State men's track and field team got the 2010 outdoor season underway Friday at the University of North Florida Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bulldogs earned top honors in the 100-meter hurdles and 100-meter dash prelims, the 4x100-meter relay and pole vault.

"The guys competed very well for us today in heavy winds and cold temperatures," associate head coach Steve Dudley said. "Our kids went out there and did a very good job in the conditions they were given. We have some top times in events going into tomorrow's competition, and I'm excited about that."

Junior Emanuel Mayers is the leading qualifier in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.61 seconds. Martin Lee has the third fastest time in the event 15.16 seconds. Both Mayers and Lee advanced to Saturday's final.

Five Bulldogs competed in the 100-meter dash prelim, with senior Dwight Mullings coming away as the events leader in 10.53 seconds. Joining Mullings in Saturday's final is Kendall May who is making his return to the track after sitting out 2009 with an injury and red-shirt freshman Gerron Hendricks. May has the second best time heading into the finals, 10.62 seconds, while Hendricks has the fourth best time, 10.75 seconds. Justin Christian and Alex Richter finished in tenth and twelfth place in the event.

MSU's quartet of D'Angelo Cherry, Mullings, Christian and May ran 40.37 seconds in the 4x100-meter relay to win the event. State had a second relay team, Mayers, Tavaris Tate, Hendricks and Daundre Barnaby, who ran 42.41 seconds to finish sixth.

Sophomore Patrick Johnson took medalist honors in the pole vault clearing 14 feet, 9 inches.

In other field events, Ed Weslea threw 161-01 to finish second in the discus throw. In the long jump, Josh Tucker came in fifth with a 22-03 leap, while Kendrick Poullard (22-01), Martin Lee (21-06.25) and Trevarus Christian (21-04.75) rounded out the Top 10 coming in seventh, ninth and tenth place.

Daniel Simpkins led the distance runners in the 5,000-meter run as MSU's top finisher in 14 minutes, 52.08 seconds for fifth-place. Rob Ellis (15:11.59) wasn't far behind finishing in eighth, while Phillip Johnson (15:25.57) and Julian Duarte (15:31.39) came in twelfth and fifteenth place respectively.

"Saturday should be a good day for us in the finals, and have the 4x400(meter relay) as well," Dudley said. "It should be an exciting day."

The Bulldogs return to action in Jacksonville Saturday for the final day of competition at the University of North Florida Invitational.

Three Lady Bulldogs competed Friday in Baton Rouge, La., at the LSU Last Chance Qualifier. LaQuinta Aaron, Wendy Copeland and Keisha Wallace made the trip with hopes of bettering their marks for a higher seed into the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Wallace won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.43, while Aaron finished in 8.45 seconds, good for second-place. Copeland finished third in the long jump with a 19-06.75 leap. All three Lady Bulldogs own NCAA provisional qualifying marks in their respective events from meets earlier this season.

University of North Florida Invitational Day 1 Results

Long Jump Winner: Johnta Griffith, 25-00, Unattached
MSU: 5. Josh Tucker, 22-03; 7. Kendrick Poullard, 22-01; 9. Martin Lee, 21-06.25; 10. Trevarus Christian, 21-04.75

Pole Vault Winner: Patrick Johnson, 14-9, MSU

Discus Winner: Michael Putman, 183-04, Florida State
MSU: 2. Ed Weslea, 161-01

100-Meter Hurdles Prelim Leader:  Emanuel Mayers, 14.61, MSU
MSU: 3. Martin Lee, 15.16; 13. Trevarus Christian, 16.54

100-Meter Dash Prelim Leader: Dwight Mullings, 10.53, MSU
MSU: 2. Kendall May, 10.62; 10. Justin Christian, 11.00; 12. Alex Richter, 11:00

4x100-Meter Relay Winner: MSU "A", D. Cherry, D. Mullings, J. Christian, K. May- 40.37
MSU: 6."B", E. Mayers, T. Tate, G. Hendricks, D. Barnaby, 42.41

5,000-Meter Run Winner:  Nicholas Maedel, 14:34.96, Florida State
MSU: 5. Daniel Simpkins, 14:52.08; 8. Rob Ellis, 15:11.59; 12. Phillip Johnson, 15:25.57; 15. Julian Duarte, 15:31.59; 19. Kyle Balderson, 15:46.36; 20. Allen Gearhart, 15:48.63; 27. Nick Perkins, 16:07.15

LSU Last Chance Qualifier Results

60-Meter Hurdles Winner: Keisha Wallace, 8.43, MSU
MSU: 2. LaQuinta Aaron, 8.45

Long Jump Winner: Melissa Ogbourne, 19-10.75, LSU
MSU: 3. Wendy Copeland, 19-06.75