Jamaica, N.Y. -- The St. Johns University mens track and field team stands in fifth place, while the Red Storm women are in 12th place after the first day of competition at the 2002 BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Championships, being held at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.

The mens team has 10 points through five events. Connecticut leads the mens competition with 44 points, followed by Notre Dame (33), Villanova and Georgetown (28 apiece), Rutgers (16) and Syracuse (15). West Virginia leads the womens competition with 42 points.

On the mens side, junior Jason Goulart (Providence, R.I./Bishop Hendricks) finished in second-place in the 35-pound weight throw, with a toss of 59-feet, 2 < inches, which qualifies him for the IC4A Championships. Senior George Maringapasi (Harrarre, Zimbabwe) finished in seventh place in the long jump (22-feet, 5 > inches).

Sophomore Mohamed Kanu qualified for Sundays finals in the 400-meter dash (49.04), while graduate student Jose Zayas (New York, N.Y./George Washington) qualified in the 1,000-meter run (2:27.18).

On the womens side, senior Sheba George (Brooklyn, N.Y./Tilden) finished in second place in the 20-pound weight throw, with a toss of 63-feet, 1 < inches, and sophomore Alina Abrimova (Armavik, Russia) finished in ninth place in the long jump at 18-feet, one-half inch.

The championships conclude on Sunday.