PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The pole vault competition at the River States Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships proved to be a clean sweep for Midway on Thursday.

Three-time reining women's champion Nevaeh Brown was joined on the winner's podium by Austin Ratliff, who took first with a height of 4.10 meters to pace the Eagles on day one of the two-day conference tournament.

The Eagles currently sit in sixth place at the 10-team tournament with a score of 24. Host Point Park is currently first with 68 points, 11 more than current runner-up Rio Grande (Ohio).

Ratliff topped his own program record by .10 meters, securing the win on his third and final attempt, taking the crown ahead of Indiana East freshman Connor Nease, who hit 3.95.

Aside from a conference title, the performance also marked a major improvement for the junior from Owensboro, who took fourth with a height of 3.80 meters at the Outdoor Championships last season. 

Though he wasn't able to earn a win, Jacob Kocis was still able to add to his record-setting resume on Thursday, breaking his own program record in the 10,000-meter run.

Hovering around fifth place at the mid point, Kocis, already a national qualifier in the event, made a furious charge late to cross the finish line in 31:08.68. Only Shawnee State's Aiden Kammler (30:48.92) came in ahead of him.

In was one of two events Kocis scored in Thursday, as he, Carson Milner, Josiah Kocis and Isaac Cockrell took sixth in the 3,200-meter relay, finishing in 8:11.42.

Also scoring for Midway was Raush Gill, who threw a 44.89 to finish sixth in the hammer throw.

The Eagles also earned semifinal first-place finish Thursday, with Abdul Salaah running an 11.03 in the 100-meter dash. He will be the top-seed in Friday's final round.

Day two of the River States Conference Outdoor Championships will begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday.

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