Waco, Texas ? Kansas University pole vaulters Natalia Bartnovskaya and Christen Guenther earned second- and third-place finishes, respectively, to kick off the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday.

Bartnovskaya and Guenther, along with Jaimie House (fifth place) and Abby Row (seventh) combined for 20 points and the KU women’s team sits in third place heading into the second day of the three-day championship.

Lindsay Vollmer, competing in the heptathlon, leads the field after four of seven events. Teammate Rebecca Neville is in fifth place.

Other Jayhawks in action on Friday included Kyra Kilwein, who placed 11th overall in the 10,000 meters, and Alena Krechyk, KU’s All-American hammer thrower who fouled on each of her three attempts and did not score.

The Kansas men’s track team was led by Evan Landes, who placed ninth in the 10,000 meters. Josh Baden earned a 15th-place finish, followed by James Wilson in 16th place.

Track prelims, women’s shot put, men’s pole vault and long jump events will highlight today’s action.