ALLENDALE, Mich. --- Tusculum University competed Thursday on the opening day of the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championship, hosted by Grand Valley State University.

The Pioneer men's 4x100 relay team of Gerard Hearst, Jarvis Barber Jr., Marquel Pittman and Zackary Nelson finished 11th overall with a time of 40.72 seconds. Tusculum's time was its third-best of the season and the fifth-fastest in program history.

Nelson was scheduled to run in the preliminaries of the men's 400 meters but was forced to withdraw after aggravating an injury in the 4x100.

The 4x100 and the 400 meters were the only events the Pioneers were qualified. The remaining teams will continue competition through Saturday in 21 men's and 21 women's events.