JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Purdue track & field junior Cierra Williams advanced to the quarterfinal in the 400-meter as the 2023 NCAA East Preliminary Round continued on Thursday, May 25, in Jacksonville, Florida.
On a pleasant Thursday evening at North Florida's Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium, Williams moved on to the NCAA quarterfinal for the first time in her career in an individual event. On Saturday night, she will race for a top-12 finish and a spot in the national semifinal.
Williams ran the 400m in 53.21 to finish 17th overall. She was fourth in the sixth and final heat and qualified for Saturday's quarterfinal thanks to her top-24 finish. Williams' time would have been the second-fastest in her career prior to this season.
In addition to Williams reaching her first individual quarterfinal, she is the first Boilermaker after two days of this year's event to qualify for a second race.
Williams' 400m is one of 11 entries at the four-day NCAA East Prelims. In each event, Purdue is competing for a top-12 finish and a qualification to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas, from June 7-10.
On Wednesday, freshman Connor Czajkowski entered the record books in the 200m in his NCAA debut as three Boilermakers competed to begin the weekend.
Purdue is represented by 18 competitors in 11 events, eight individual and three relays, at the four-day NCAA East Preliminary Round. Six women's events and five men's events for Purdue earned a spot at the regional meet for a chance to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
The men are back in action on Friday, May 26, and the women conclude the meet on Saturday, May 27. On Friday, the discus starts at 1 p.m. ET, followed by the 4x100 relay at 5 p.m. and the triple jump at 6 p.m. Saturday's action gets underway for the Old Gold and Black with the high jump at 2:30 p.m. and the 4x100 relay at 5 p.m. The triple jump is at 6 p.m., the 400m quarterfinal is at 6:50 p.m. and the meet concludes with the 4x400 relay at 8:45 p.m.
Fans unable to cheer on the Boilermakers in person can follow along with live results, and watch all of the action live on ESPN+ (Friday | Saturday), with live streams beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday and 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Additional East Prelims information, including tickets and the complete schedule, is available at UNFOspreys.com and at NCAA.com. Updates from Jacksonville, including schedule adjustments should weather have an impact, can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Direct links to follow along also are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.
The NCAA East Prelims, along with the West Prelims, feature 48 qualifiers in each individual event and 24 teams in each relay. The top 12 finishers in every event from both the east and west will advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas, from June 7-10.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
On a pleasant Thursday evening at North Florida's Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium, Williams moved on to the NCAA quarterfinal for the first time in her career in an individual event. On Saturday night, she will race for a top-12 finish and a spot in the national semifinal.
Williams ran the 400m in 53.21 to finish 17th overall. She was fourth in the sixth and final heat and qualified for Saturday's quarterfinal thanks to her top-24 finish. Williams' time would have been the second-fastest in her career prior to this season.
In addition to Williams reaching her first individual quarterfinal, she is the first Boilermaker after two days of this year's event to qualify for a second race.
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Williams' 400m is one of 11 entries at the four-day NCAA East Prelims. In each event, Purdue is competing for a top-12 finish and a qualification to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas, from June 7-10.
On Wednesday, freshman Connor Czajkowski entered the record books in the 200m in his NCAA debut as three Boilermakers competed to begin the weekend.
Purdue is represented by 18 competitors in 11 events, eight individual and three relays, at the four-day NCAA East Preliminary Round. Six women's events and five men's events for Purdue earned a spot at the regional meet for a chance to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
The men are back in action on Friday, May 26, and the women conclude the meet on Saturday, May 27. On Friday, the discus starts at 1 p.m. ET, followed by the 4x100 relay at 5 p.m. and the triple jump at 6 p.m. Saturday's action gets underway for the Old Gold and Black with the high jump at 2:30 p.m. and the 4x100 relay at 5 p.m. The triple jump is at 6 p.m., the 400m quarterfinal is at 6:50 p.m. and the meet concludes with the 4x400 relay at 8:45 p.m.
Fans unable to cheer on the Boilermakers in person can follow along with live results, and watch all of the action live on ESPN+ (Friday | Saturday), with live streams beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday and 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Additional East Prelims information, including tickets and the complete schedule, is available at UNFOspreys.com and at NCAA.com. Updates from Jacksonville, including schedule adjustments should weather have an impact, can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Direct links to follow along also are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.
The NCAA East Prelims, along with the West Prelims, feature 48 qualifiers in each individual event and 24 teams in each relay. The top 12 finishers in every event from both the east and west will advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas, from June 7-10.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.