Day Two Results | Day Three Heat Sheets

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (SMU) – Friday competition at the NCAA West Preliminary Championships featured all sprints action as Mustangs Latessa Johnson and Chelsea Francis each auto-qualified out of their respective heats for the 200-meter dash quarterfinals on the final day of regional competition in Sacramento, California.

Johnson, who returned to the NCAA West Prelim for the third consecutive year in the 200-meter, raced to a second place finish in heat one in 22.94 to automatically advance to the quarterfinals. She posted the fourth-best time of all competitors in the first round. The junior is one step closer to returning to the NCAA Championships after finishing ninth in the country in 2016 to take home Second Team All-American honors.

Sophomore Chelsea Francis pulled into third place in the fifth heat to earn her own automatic qualification for the next round. Her time of 23.68 advances her as one of 24 athletes who will take the track again Saturday at 7:50 p.m. PT/9:50 p.m. CT.

The sprints duo also ran the 100-meter quarterfinal Friday after posting impressive first round marks on the opening day of competition. Johnson's time of 11.36 ties her best mark of the season and earned her 16^th place. Francis took 18^th in 11.42 after reaching the 100-meter quarterfinal round for the second consecutive year.

Action continues tomorrow at the NCAA West Preliminary Championships as four Mustangs look to join teammate Tochi Nlemchi, who qualified in Thursday's shot put event, at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon next month. Events begin at 4:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. CT with Atipa Mabonga in the triple jump and conclude at 8:45 p.m. PT/10:45 p.m. CT with Hannah Miller in the 5,000-meter.

Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Mustangs by following SMU Track & Field Team on Twitter at @SMUTrackFieldXC, on Facebook at Facebook.com/SMUTrackFieldXC, and on Instagram at Instagram.com/SMUTrackandXC. Twitter at @SMUMustangs or Instagram at SMU.Mustangs.
 
SMU Results – NCAA West Preliminary Championships - Day Two
100m Dash Quarterfinals
16. Latessa Johnson                        11.36
18. Chelsea Francis                          11.42
 
200m Dash First Round
4. Latessa Johnson                          22.94Q 
21. Chelsea Francis                          23.68Q
 
SMU Schedule – Day Three – Saturday, May 26
4:30 p.m. PT/6:30 p.m. CT            Triple Jump First Round                 Atipa Mabonga
7:50 p.m. PT/9:50 p.m. CT            200m Dash Quarterfinals              Latessa Johnson & Chelsea Francis
8:45 p.m. PT/10:45 p.m. CT          5,000-meter Semifinals                 Hannah Miller