LANDOVER, Md. – Monae Nichols repeated as Long Jump champion as Bethune-Cookman enjoyed its first-day lead of the women's team standings at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships Thursday at the Prince George's Sports And Learning Complex.

Nichols posted a leap of 20 feet, 6.5 inches to take her third conference championship – she also won the 2018 outdoor title in the event. 

With teammates Gabrielle Collins (19 feet, six inches) and Christine McNeal (18 feet, .5 inches) taking third and eighth, respectively, the BCU women registered 17 points in the event en route to the lead after two events.  

Along with Brittany Gill finishing fifth (19:08.16) in the 5000 meters, the Lady Wildcats have 21 points to Maryland Eastern Shore's and Norfolk State's 13.

On the men's side, JaiQuan Earls's third place finish in the long jump (23 feet, 8.75 inches) and DaMauri Little eighth in the 5000 (16:31.08) represented the Wildcats' Thursday points as the team's strong representation in the heptathlon developed.

After four events, defending champion Marc McCoy leads the way with 3,019 points. Norfolk State's Kequan Henley (2,960) is second and BCU's Kimani Richards (2,773) and JaQuaveon Beachem (2,657) third and fourth. 

Norfolk State leads the men's standings with 22 points, while three-time defending champion North Carolina A&T State is second with 14 points.

Friday's action begins at 9 a.m. with the conclusion of the men's heptathlon; the women's pentathlon will begin at 9:20 a.m., and the first running event – the prelims of the women's 60-meter hurdles – will begin at 12 p.m.