DES MOINES, Iowa - Former Portland State decathlete Nick Trubachik finished day one of the U.S. National Track & Field Championships with a score of 3,809 points to sit in 10th place after the first five events. Tom Pappas currently leads the competition with 4,234 points.

Trubachik started the day with a career-best mark in 100-meters when he clocked an 11.20 to finish ninth in the race. Trubachik beat his previous decathlon-best by .19 in the event, recorded back at the NCAA Championships. Today's mark is even .15 faster than his fastest open mark May 1 at the Pacific Twilight.

The Estacada native followed his 100-meters race with solid showings in the long jump (22-5.75) and in the shot put (45-5) to finish 11th and fifth, respectively. He would go on to finish 10th in the high jump, 6-4, and ninth in the 400-meters, 51.31.

Trubachik will continue tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. pacific  with the 110-meter hurdles as one 11 remaining athletes in the competition. Three of the competitors Trubachik went toe-to-toe with in Eugene, North Carolina's Daniel Keller, Akron's Daniel Kinsey and California's Michael Morrison, have all scratched out of the competition.

Trubachik is only 47 points behind his pace at the NCAA Championships two weeks ago in Eugene. He scored 7,510 points at the meet to finish seventh and become Portland State's first track and field All-American since 1996, the last season Portland State competed at the Division II level.

Portland State alumna Caressa Sims will also be competing tomorrow at the U.S. Championships, beginning at 1:20 p.m. Sims will be competing in the hammer throw. Sims finished fourth at the U.S. Indoor Championships in the weight throw.

Event / Time-Mark / Place

100m / 11.20 / ninth

Long jump / 22-5.75 / 11th

Shot put / 45.5 / fifth

High jump / 6-4 / 10th

400m / 51.31 / ninth

Total score - 3,809