DES MOINES, Iowa - Right before running in third heat of the 400-meter hurdles race, senior Franklin Barnes of Chicago focused in on what he thought would be his final time running the event.

Not so ‘fast'.

Barnes would go on to not only win the Midwest Collegiate Conference title in the event, but his fishing time of 55.13 met the ‘B' standard for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships.

To top those accolades was the fact that marked the fourth time Barnes has won the event at the MCC meet in his career.

Earlier in the meet, Barnes and freshman Christian ‘Ed' Awah of Willow Springs, Ill., each qualified for Friday's finals in the 110-meter hurdles as well. With a time of 15.66, Awah holds the top time heading into the finals in the event tomorrow while Barnes is fifth after running a 16.38 preliminary time.

In the pole vault, sophomore Aaron Yerk of Belvidere, Ill., tied the Ashford University record, broke the MCC meet record, and won the event with a height of 4.25 meters (13'11"). The victory marked the second consecutive year that Yerk has won the pole vault at the MCC meet.

Yerk also took 10th place honors in the long jump and in the discus throw after a bound of 6.40 meters (21') and a toss of 32.68 meters (107'3").

Freshman Shawn Goodhart of Erie, Ill., took fourth place in the pole vault as well, clearing 3.50 meters (11'5").

Away from the track, the Saints' throwers had a nice showing on day one, highlighted by fourth place finishes by freshman Joe Snyder of Winnebago, Ill., in the discus and sophomore A.J. Smith of Port Byron, Ill., in the javelin throw.

Snyder's toss of 39.64 meters (130'1") placed him fourth in the talented discus field, while Smith took fourth after throwing the javelin 45.62 meters (149'8").

Snyder would also take eighth place in the javelin throw after a toss of 33.79 meters (110'10").

Sophomore Austin Gilbert of Peoria, Ill., will return to the track on Friday to compete in the finals of both the 100 and 200-meter dashes, as his qualifying times of 11.13 and 22.06 placed him in the top eight of each event.

With a time of 1:00.45, sophomore Ademola Are of Hazel Crest, Ill., won his heat and placed 10th overall in the 400-meter hurdles.

In the field events, senior Caleb Snyder qualified for the long jump finals after a preliminary jump of 6.41 meters (21') and would go on to place ninth after besting his previous jump with a leap of 6.45 meters (21'2").

The 4x800 meter relay team consisting of freshman Patrick McClain of Gary, Ind., freshman Mizael Carrera of Franklin Park, Ill., freshman Ray Rivera of Franklin Park, Ill., and Awah concluded the events on day one, finishing in fifth place with a time of 8:36.39.

With 46 points, the Saints sit in third place after day one heading into Friday.