Emporia, Kan. -- Missouri Southern sophomore pole vaulter Emily Presley picked up an NCAA Automatic Qualifying Mark as the Lions outdoor track and field teams opened up the season at the ESU Spring Invite. 

Presley tied her career-best in the event with a height of 13-03.50 to win and place her number one on the national list early on in the season. Mylene Loridan was sixth in a height of 11-05.75. 

Allie Heckemeyer won the triple jump with a provisional distance of 39-01.75, while Tiffany Gilford was 16th in the long jump. Heckemeyer placed ninth in the 100m hurdles in a time of 15.33, while Gilford was 28th in the 100m dash. 

Desirea Buerge and Jenson Maydew placed ninth and 18th in the shot put, while Buerge hit a provisional mark of 149-10 and placed third in the discus. Halee Cashio was 11th in the hammer with a distance of 140-03. 

Overall, the women placed ninth in the team standings with 29 points. 

On the men's side, Kennan Harrison was second in the triple jump with a provisional mark of 48-00.75, while Brendan Watkins and Mike Watson placed 13th and 14th in the long jump with just three quarters of an inch separating the pair. 

Chance Johnson was fifth in the high jump with a mark of 6-02.75, while Zach Wuest and Dean Howard placed 6th and 11th in the pole vault. Garrett Austin was tenth in the javelin with a distance of 187-09. 

In total, the men placed 12th as a team with 14.50 points. 

Both teams will be back in action on March 31 as the teams travel to Washington University in St. Louis.