Penn State's Cardina, Howell 1st-day Texas Relays leaders

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Penn State freshman Robert Cardina led the decathlon Wednesday after the first day of the Texas Relays, with defending NCAA champion Johannes Hock of Texas in second.

Cardina had 4,069 points, with a big boost from clearing 7 feet, 4 1/4 inches in the high jump.

Hock, who had off Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2014, has 3,947 points and had the best shot put of the day at 49-5 3/4. He will throw the javelin left-handed Thursday because he has not been medically cleared yet to use his right arm in that event.

Penn State's Brittney Howell led the heptathlon with 3,442 points, barely ahead of Alex Gochenour of Arkansas with 3,431. Howell topped the 100 meters in 13.61 seconds.