GREENSBORO, N.C. – Kiara Howell's runner-up finish in the discus throw helped position the Spartan women's track and field team in fourth place after the first day of competition Thursday at the 2014 MEAC Outdoor Championships at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T.

Florida A&M holds a slim lead after day one, with 19 points. Bethune-Cookman is second with 17, North Carolina A&T is third with 15 and NSU is fourth with 14.

Howell was second in the discus with a best throw of 149 feet (45.42 meters), just seven inches shy of her personal best that she achieved earlier this season at William & Mary. FAMU's Sasha-Ann Lebert edged out Howell with a throw of 149 feet, 10 inches (45.67m).

The discus was one of three events contested on Thursday. One was the high jump, which the Spartans did not enter a competitor in. The third was the 5,000 meters, where junior Fiona Masai came in fifth place in 18 minutes, 27.80 seconds. That was the fastest time this year by a Spartan. Adugna Desalegn placed seventh in 18:57.50, giving NSU a total of six points in the event.

The second day of competition gets underway at 9 a.m. Friday with the resumption of the women's heptathlon. Click here to follow live results.