Four Mustangs Advance On Day One Of NCAA West Track Regional

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From SMUMustangs.com:

Four Mustangs Advance On Day One Of NCAA West Regional

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (SMU) – Four Mustangs earned spots in Saturday's Quarterfinal during SMU track & field's first day at the NCAA West Regional.

The Mustangs had a perfect qualification day on the track as each of their four track competitors, Jernaya Sharp, Chelsea Francis, Chika Iwuamadi and Ashton Woods, moved past the opening round. Both Sharp and Iwuamadi broke their own program records during the busy Thursday for the Mustangs.

Sharp ran a 13.11 time in the 100 hurdles to earn her a spot in Saturday's Quarterfinal. The senior finished second in her heat and 14th overall in the first-round competition. Her time topped her previous best of 13.18 and improved on her program record. With 12 spots at the NCAA Championships up for grabs, Sharp returns to the track on Saturday at 6:45 p.m.

Francis earned a spot in the quarterfinals thanks to a time of 11.38 in the 100m. Competing in one of the strongest heats, the senior finished 5th in the heat but was able to earn one of the six non-automatic qualifiers. Francis looks to return to the NCAA Outdoor Championships after making the trip in the 100m in 2019. The 100m quarterfinals are set for 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Iwuamadi broke her own program record in the 400m hurdles as she advanced to Saturday's quarterfinal. Running a time of 52.54, the third-year Mustang finished third in her heat to lock up an automatic qualifying spot. Her time is 0.16 better than the record she set back in her freshman season and 0.29 better than any other competitor in SMU history. Iwuamadi will attempt to advance to Eugene, the site of the NCAA Championships, at 7:20 p.m. on Saturday.

Woods kept the Mustangs perfect in advancing on the track with her performance in the 400 hurdles. The senior finished second in her heat with a time of 58.64. She ranked 12th overall among the field. Woods earned her second trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals after advancing past the first round as a sophomore in 2019.

The Mustangs had a pair of freshmen competing in the long jump on Thursday. Raelyn Roberson posted a personal best after a top distance of 6.26m on her final of three jumps. She finished 21st overall among the 48 competitors, just nine spots back of a NCAA Championships qualifying position. Fellow freshman Funminiyi Olajide didn't post a mark as she wrapped her stellar debut season. SMU's strong 2021 Outdoor long jump season included three program top 10s from Olajide, Roberson and Mabonga. The team ranked 21st in the country in the USTFCCCA's event squad rankings.

After a break in the action on Friday, SMU returns to the track on Saturday with eight Mustangs in action. Both Mustang relay teams will hit the track along with the four track qualifiers from Thursday. Atipa Mabonga represents the Mustang in field events as the senior competes in the 3 p.m. triple jump.


LONG JUMP - National First Round / Regional Finals
21 Raelyn Roberson 6.26m (PB, #3 at SMU)
Funminiyi Olajide NA

100 Hurdles - National First Round / Regional Semis
14 Jernaya Sharp 13.11 Q (PB, #1 at SMU)

100m - National First Round / Regional Semis
21 Chelsea Francis 11.38 Q (SB)

400m - National First Round / Regional Semis
12 Chika Iwuamadi 52.54 Q (PB, #1 at SMU)

400 Hurdles - National First Round / Regional Semis
12 Ashton Woods 58.64 Q


SATURDAY SCHEDULE

TRIPLE JUMP
3:15 P.M. | National First Round / Regional Finals
Atipa Mabonga

4x100 Relay
5:30 P.M. | National Quarterfinals / Regional Finals
Jordanae Scott, Chelsea Francis, Raelyn Roberson, Jernaya Sharp

100 Hurdles
6:45 P.M. | National Quarterfinals / Regional Finals
Jernaya Sharp

100m
7:05 P.M. | National Quarterfinals / Regional Finals
Chelsea Francis

400m
7:20 P.M. | National Quarterfinals / Regional Finals
Chika Iwuamadi

400 Hurdles
7:55 P.M. | National Quarterfinals / Regional Finals
Ashton Woods

4x400 Relay
9:15 P.M. | National Quarterfinals / Regional Finals
Ashton Woods, Annette Bolomboy, Whitney Williams, Chika Iwuamadi