The UCSB combined events group got the men's and women's track and field teams off to a good start at the Big West Championships. Sophomore decathlete Tyler Nelson traded the lead five times with Long Beach State's Herman Day but in the end it was Nelson who prevailed, winning the conference crown with a heroic effort in the 1500m. All five Gaucho athletes broke into the scoring column, with four establishing new lifetime bests. Nelson's victory now makes it four Big West decathlon wins in five years for UCSB.