PELLA — Competing in just his second decathlon, Central College men's track and field athlete Caleb Jennings (junior, Spirit Lake HS) is in second place after the first day of the Iowa Conference outdoor track and field championships on Thursday.

Jennings has 3,309 points and is behind leader Ryan Rogers of Loras College (3,468 points) by 159 points.

Formerly a sprinter for Central, Jennings ran the fastest 100-meter dash (11.21 seconds) and the second-fastest 400-meter dash time (51.99 seconds).

"Caleb ran the 400 really well," associate head coach Jim Fuller said. "It just really isn't a big secret, if you practice an area, you get better at it. We have been really pushing in that area."

The junior finished among the top-three in all five events on Thursday, setting new personal-best marks in the high jump (5 feet, 10.75 inches) and shot put (36-2.75)

Day two of the decathlon starts at 9 a.m. with the 110-meter hurdles. The other four events on Friday will follow in the order of discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw and 1,500-meter run.

"I'm very happy with where everyone is at," Fuller said. "We've got to come out here and do it again tomorrow."