May 26, 2017

Day Two Results (PDF) | Saturday Heat Sheets | Photo Gallery

AUSTIN, Texas (SMU) – Sophomore Latessa Johnson extended her season after running 23.26 (+2.2 mps) seconds Friday in the first round of the 200-meter dash on the second day of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field West Preliminary Round.

Running in the sixth and last heat, Johnson came off the curve in lane four with two Texas A&M sprinters in her sight with Brenesa Thompson in lane five and Aalyiah Brown in seven. The trio headed down the straightaway pulling away from the pack to automatically qualify for Saturday's quarterfinal. Brown won the heat in 22.64, followed by Thompson in 22.95 and Johnson placing third.

Johnson won the American Athletic Conference outdoor 200m title two weeks ago and holds the school and conference record in the event at 22.80, which was set at the NCAA preliminary round last year where she finished seventh. She has the 16th fastest time out of 24 competitors heading into the quarterfinal, which scheduled for Saturday at 7:35 p.m.

The first Mustang to compete on day two was Chelsea Francis, whose first year on the Hilltop came to a close after running 11.43 in the quarterfinal of the 100m.

The Carrollton, Texas, native finished seventh in her heat and 18th overall in the event. Francis was one of five freshman to advance after day one after crossing the finish line in 11.38 (+3.8 mps) Thursday to qualify for the quarterfinal.
 
Francis had a stellar freshman season that saw her set The American 100m record at the conference championship with a time of 11.34, which is the second-fastest time in program history.

Shanoah Souza was the final Mustang to compete Friday evening as the senior finished her illustrious career at SMU after failing to advance in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Souza is the reigning conference champion in the event and was instrumental in the helping the Mustangs win the first two American Athletic Conference outdoor championships in 2014 and 2015. She closes out her career a five-time all-conference honoree and a two time NCAA preliminary round qualifier.

In addition to Johnson competing in the 200m, freshman Hannah Miller will be the last Mustang looking to punch a ticket to Eugene as the semifinal of the 5,000-meters will start Saturday at 8:05 p.m.

The top-12 qualifiers in each event out of both preliminary rounds will compete in the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships held June 7-10 in Eugene, Oregon.

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