ROCK HILL, S.C. – Gardner-Webb's Ben Bell got off to a dominant start to the men's decathlon at the 2015 Winthrop adidas Invitational Thursday and sits in first place heading into Friday's final five disciplines.

Bell (Greensboro, N.C. / Caldwell Academy) held an 89-point advantage heading into Friday and his 3,457 points leaves him within striking distance of his personal record of 6,250 points set last March in the same event.

The 6-foot-3 standout finished first in the long jump with a distance of 21'5.50" (6.54m), increasing his mark in each of his three attempts on Thursday. That mark was just shy of his personal record jump of 6.66 meters set last season at Winthrop.

Bell followed with a first-place finish in the shot put, putting in a distance of 40'0.50" (12.20m) on his third attempt – a new personal record for that discipline by more than half a meter. Bell took second in the high jump (1.88m), third in the 100m dash (11.40 seconds) and fourth in the 400m dash (53.48 seconds).

Bell's high jump clearance tied his personal record, set last season at the Big South Outdoor Championships and his 100m dash time was only three one-hundredths of a second shy of his personal record – also set last March at Winthrop.

Bell will begin his quest to wrap up the decathlon title at 10:00 am Friday with the 100m hurdles. The discus (10:45 am), pole vault (11:45), javelin (1:30 pm) and 1,500 meter run (2:00 pm) will follow.

Follow Bell's progress and the rest of Gardner-Webb's track & field contingent on Friday and Saturday courtesy of Winthrop and tfmeetpro.com by clicking here.