EMPORIA, KAN. -- South Dakota's Mara McGill leads the women's multi-event competition at the Emporia State Open, which opened on Thursday in Emporia, Kan. USD's James Vahrenkamp was third in the men's competition.

McGill, a junior from Beresford, S.D., totaled 2,922 points and leads Alyssa Fischer of Northern Iowa by 45 points in the heptathlon competition.

Vahrenkamp, a senior from Rapid City, S.D., totaled 3,643 points in the men's decathlon. Josh Rasmussen of Minnesota State, Mankato leads the competition with 3,732 points.

McGill placed in the top-four in all four of the heptathlon events contested on Thursday. She won the 100-meter hurdles with a clocking of 14.58. She was second in the high jump at 5'00.5; third in the 200-meter dash at 26.06; and fourth in the shot put with a toss of 34'07.75. On Friday, the seven-event competition will conclude with three events, including the long jump, javelin throw and the 800-meter run.

Vahrenkamp placed in the top-five in three of the five events of the decathlon contested on Thursday. Vahrenkamp was second in the high jump, going 6'04.25. He was third in the 400-meter run with a clocking of 50.41. In the long jump, Vahrenkamp finished fourth at 22'01.5. He was ninth in the shot put (39'10) and 25th in the 100-meter dash (11.61). The 10-event decathlon competition will conclude with the 110-meter hurdles, pole vault, discus, javelin and the 1,500-meter run.