LA JOLLA, Calif. --- The UC Irvine women's track and field team got off to a solid start on the first day of the Cal/Nevada Championships at UC San Diego Friday.

UCI junior Itos Aikhionbare finished second in the discus throw with a mark of 166-6 and junior Colleen Lillig placed third in the 5,000 meters with a time of 17:32.03.

Carlotta Pham was fourth in the 10,000 meters in 37:40.75 while Lacey Surak finished fourth in the javelin throw at 148-3 and Melanie Speech was eighth with a mark of 134-2 (No. 8 in UCI history).

Freshman Megan George was the top qualifier in the prelims of the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.77 that ranks third-best in Anteater history.  Paige Bushnell also qualified for Saturday's final with a qualifying time of 14.43.

UCI also had two qualifiers in the 400-meter hurdles as Ericka Nowell had the second-fastest time in the prelims at 60.34 and Kaulyn Lee-McNeill the fourth-best in 61.81.

Chelsea Schneider (2:12.88) and Marie Brashears (2:14.18) advanced to Saturday's 800-meter final after Friday's prelims.

UCI is second in the team competition with 29 points as San Diego State leads with 83 in the 19-team field.

Field events begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday with the first running event at 2:00 p.m. at Triton Track & Field Stadium.