NCAA track and field: Prandini starts well at West Prelims

Oregon’s Jenna Prandini, a junior from Clovis High, eased concerns about a slight hamstring pull that removed her from the Pac-12 Track and Field Championships two weeks ago by running fast and jumping long to open the NCAA West Preliminary Round on Thursday in Austin, Texas.

The eight-time All-American won her 100-meter dash heat in a wind-aided 11.06 seconds and sailed 21-4.75 in the long jump — the best mark of the day, and one that automatically qualifies her for the NCAA Championship on June 10-13 on her home track in Eugene.

Prandini will run the 100 finals and a 200 heat Friday. She placed first (long jump), second (200) and third (100) in last year’s NCAA finals.

Fresno State’s Kyra Johnson advanced to Friday’s quarterfinal round in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing in 59.41 seconds. Johnson will be one of 24 athletes vying for the 12 qualifying bids for the NCAA Championships.

The Bulldogs’ Annemarie Schwanz finished in 4:33.28 in the 1,500, placing 37th out of 47 competitors. She will be back in action Saturday for the 5,000.

Dezirae Johnson crossed the finish line in 2:12.34 in the 800, placing 40th in a field of 48 and almost 3 seconds off her Mountain West Championships mark. She will run Saturday on the 4-x-400 relay.

On the men’s side, Fresno State’s Devin Harrison posted a 24-0.25 mark in the long jump to finish 24th; Brice Sandri’s top heave of 169-6 in the discus was good for 32nd.

Keane Bland (110 hurdles), Njeri Omawahleh (200 dash) will be in action with Johnson on Friday.

This story was originally published May 28, 2015 at 10:45 PM with the headline "NCAA track and field: Prandini starts well at West Prelims."