The top finishers in each heat and the top four remaining times advance to Saturday's finals. The top five finishers in each region advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championship, June 7-9, in Sacramento, Calif.

Senior Jon McDowell (Odessa, Texas) advanced to the 110-meter hurdles finals after winning Heat 3 with a 13.74. His time was the second fastest qualifying time behind Marlon Odom of Texas Tech (13.66).

Connaughton, an 11-time all-Southland Conference performer, advanced to the Saturday finals with the sixth fastest qualifying time of 20.99.

Senior Ivorita Taylor clocked the third fastest 800-meter time in school history with a 2:08.13, but failed to advance to the finals, finishing 11th in the prelims.

The women's 400-meter relay team of Kim Hargers, Kourtnee Jones, Jasmine Walls and Shana Rash posted a time of 45.53 seconds to finish sixth in their heat and miss qualifying for the finals by .01 seconds. Kansas clipped the Mavs in the heat with a time of 45.52.

In the pole vault, Jared Tuel cleared the opening height of 16-01.25 and finished 17th. Shay Collett and Wade Hayes missed the opening height on all three attempts.

Jones, a region finalist last year, ran an 11.84 in the 100-meter prelims.

Sophomore Eddie Beckwith clocked a 46.94 in the 400 meters and finished third in Heat 3 but failed to advance to Saturday's finals.

Morrison finished 10th overall in the 400-meter hurdles with a 51.92.

On Saturday, Andrew Duncan competes in the triple jump. Vanessa Maida will compete in the women's pole vault and the men's 4x400-meter relay is at 6:05 p.m.

-utamavs.com -