Texas A&M University-Commerce junior Dean Laing began the two-day, 10-event decathlon on Friday at the Lone Star Conference Championships. The junior is in sixth place after recording 2,874 points in the five-event first day.

Ozzie Garcia of Texas A&M University-Kingsville leads the field by 129 points with 3,554. Garcia won the 100-meter dash and the long jump to start the day and was also victorious in the high jump.

Among the eight competitors, Laing was first in the shot put with a throw of 39-3 for 604 points. He was fourth in the 100-meter dash (11.53) for 746 points, fifth in the long jump (20-3 ¾) for 628 points and high jump (5-8 ¾) for 585 points. His clearance of 5-8 ¾ in the high jump is a season-best mark.

Laing wrapped up the first day with a seventh-place finish in the 400-meter dash (1:03.19) for 311 points.

Missing from the field is the nation's top decathlete in Camille Vandendreissche as well as teammate Chris Pounds of Abilene Christian. Among the eight competitors in the field, Laing as well as five others has posted NCAA-provisional marks.

The two-day event will wrap up on Saturday with the 110-meter hurdles, the discus, the pole vault, javelin and the 1,500-meter run.