HOUSTON -- The first day of the 2001 Conference USA Indoor Track and Field Championships ended with the women of South Florida and the men of Charlotte holding leads heading into the final day of competition at the Bill Yeoman Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Houston.

The Bulls-who are the defending C-USA Indoor Champions-hold a slight lead over Houston, edging out the Cougars 36.50 to 29 after the first day of competition. South Florida grabbed second-place honors in both the 5,000-meter run (Jolene Williams) and distance medley as the crux of their almost eight-point lead over UH.

Behind the conference titles of two All-Americans, the Cougars nip at the heels of the Bulls, and simultaneously hold off the charge of third-place Cincinnati (26) and the tandem of Marquette and Louisville (24). Rhian Clarke captured her second consecutive pole vault title, clearing a C-USA meet record of 13-3 1/2. Nine-time All-American Jenny Adams picked off where she left last year, capturing the conference long jump title with a leap of 21-2 3/4.

On the men's side, Charlotte built a comfortable lead over Memphis and Houston, using a one-three finish (Kenneth Svedsen and Vince Sherry) in the 5,000 meters, while Will Montgomery captured the long jump title (24-7 1/4). Teammate Matt Rausch rounded out the impressive first day for the 49ers, as he was the first champion of the day with a 60-10 throw in the 35-pound weight competition.

After slow early afternoon start, the Cougars jumped back into the title hunt with an impressive performance in the high jump. Defending C-USA champion Jeff Mueller kept the crown, clearing 7-1 1/2 to beat out teammate Nick Decker (6-9 3/4) for individual honors. Long jumper Brandon Bray captured third place behind Charlotte's Montgomery with a leap of 24-2 1/2.

Other individual champions on the day were Susan Barth of Marquette in the 5,000 meters (16:53.41) and Cincinnati's Mimi Merrill in the 20-pound weight throw (63-2 3/4), while Memphis captured the men's distance medley relay (10:12.02) and Tulane grabbed the women's medley honors (11:48.41).

Competition for the conference titles begins tomorrow morning with field events beginning at 11 a.m. The Houston men's squad will look to shoot past Charlotte en route to its fifth consecutive Conference USA Indoor title.

2001 Conference USA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship Results
Hosted by Houston

Day One Results-Team Standings
Place   School  	Score
1.      South Florida   36.50
2.      Houston 	29
3.      Cincinnati      26
4.      Marquette       24
        Louisville      24
6.      Charlotte       16.50
7.      Tulane  	14
8.      Memphis 	11
        DePaul  	11
10.     Southern Miss   2
11.     UAB     	1

2001 Conference USA Men's Indoor Track and Field
Championship Results
Hosted by Houston

Day One Results-Team Standings
Place   School  	Score
1.      Charlotte       53
2.      Memphis 	37
3.      Houston 	34
4.      Marquette       27
5.      DePaul  	25
6.      Tulane  	16