Cameron Levins sets meet record in 5000 meters to highlight day one of UW Invitational...

SEATTLE--Cameron Levins of Southern Utah University (left/photo courtesy Southern Utah University) set a meet record in winning the 5000 meters in day one of the UW Invitational at the Dempsey Indoor Facility.

Levins, the reigning Canadian cross country champion who finished fourth at the NCAA cross country championships, took the lead shortly after the first lap and was never challenged, winning in 13:42.90, almost nine seconds ahead of second place finisher Bolota Asmeron, who ran 13:51.81.

Kick started by a strong 400 meter leg by sophomore Maurice McNeal, the Husky men's distance medley relay, with Charlie Williams, McNeal, Brad Whitley, and anchor Joey Bywater, cruised to victory in 9:41.17.

In the women's 5000, Iowa State alum Lisa Uhl, who now lives in Portland, got her second straight win at the Dempsey after winning the 3000 two weeks ago at the UW preview, as the 2010 NCAA champ at 5000 and 10000 took command for a solo 15:29.85, the fastest time in the world so far this season.

BYU took the measure of the Huskies in the women's distance medley relay, winning in 11:13.62, with Washington second in an encouraging 11:18.34, with comebacking Christine Babcock making her first appearance in an indoor track race in almost two years, running the opening 1200 leg for the Dawgs.

2008 US Olympian Sharon Day used a strong performance in the long jump to overtake UC Santa Barbara's Barbara Nwaba and win the pentathlon.

The 2011 USA heptathlon champion scored 4430 to beat Nwaba, who scored 4244, as the UCSB standout earned an automatic qualifying mark for the NCAA indoor championships in Boise in March.

Seattle Pacific's Ali Worthen, the GNAC heptathlon champion, roared back in the final two events, the long jump and the 800 to finish fourth with a score of 3729 points, a personal best.

Freshman Jaleecia Roland of the Huskies finished eighth in her first ever multi-event competition wearing the purple and gold, scoring 3446 points, the eighth best score in Washington history.

After the first day of competition, Seattle Pacific alum Chris Randolph, a two time NCAA Division II champ for the Falcons, leads the heptathlon with a first day score of 3022 points.

Action resumes Saturday beginning at 10 am.

Complete day one results from the UW Invitational are available here.