WALNUT CREEK – Phill Bailey opened his Chico State men's track & field career with a bang this weekend, beginning at the 30th annual Chico Multi Classic and ending in Arcata and the Humboldt Invitational. Bailey produced NCAA Provisional Qualifying Marks in the decathlon and long jump while winning the Chico Multi Classic on Thursday and Friday and then ran the third leg of the Wildcats' winning 4x100-relay team at the Humboldt Invitational Saturday. Tuesday he was tabbed the California Collegiate Athletic Association Men's Track & Field Athlete of the Week for the week of Feb. 23-March 1.

The transfer from Riverside Community College posted an NCAA Division II season-best score of 6,915 in the decathlon. His leap of 23-feet-11.5 inches in Thursday's long jump was one of the keys. It's the top mark in Division II this year and the 8th longest in Chico State history.

Bailey was also the top finisher in the 100 meters (11.07 seconds), 400 meters (49.06) and 110-meter hurdles, giving him four first-place finishes out of the 10 events in which teammates Lane Andrews and Scott Pater also posted NCAA Provisional Qualifying Marks.

Less than 24 hours after completing the 10-event decathlon, Bailey teamed up with Geoff Brown, Hakeem Dyson and Ron Taylor to take first place in the 4x100-meter relay at the Humboldt Invitational in Arcata.

Bailey and the Wildcats will be back in action Saturday in Turlock, taking part in the Kim Duyst Invitational, hosted by Cal State Stanislaus.