FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Five women on the No. 5 Texas track and field program earned spots at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Thursday at the second day of the NCAA West Prelims.

The women were led by the shot put crew who secured three spots at NCAAs, the most of any school in Division I. Freshman Nina Ndubuisi led the Horns with her second-round throw of 17.28m (57-9.75). The throw is tied for the 12^th-best throw in school history with Eileen Vanisi from 1994. Senior Marilyn Nwora clinched a spot to her fifth NCAA championships with her third-round throw of 17.28m (56-8.50). Junior Chrystal Herpin earned the 12^th and final spot from the west with her throw of 17.02m (55-10.25).

The final two spots claimed were from the long jump, led by defending outdoor long jump champion, Ackelia Smith. Smith posted the top mark from both prelims at 6.86m (22-6.25) to have a chance to defend her title. Freshman Aaliyah Foster had the seventh-best mark at 6.65m (21-10) to reach her second NCAA Championship meet. Despite finishing with a huge personal best and moving to No. 8 on the UT All-Time performer list with a jump of 6.38m (20-11.25), Michelle Graham missed the top-12 spots and finished 22^nd in her final meet as a Longhorn.

Texas later advanced eight to Saturday’s quarterfinals led by Emelia Chatfield who ran a personal-best time of 12.72 to hit the Olympic standard and move to No. 5 on the All-Time performer list. Her time was the third-fastest time of the day.

In the 400-meter hurdles, freshman Akala Garrett ran the second-fastest time of the day in 55.86 to win Heat 5 and automatically advance to Saturday.

The women’s 200-meter dash saw three Longhorns advance after Dejanea Oakley ran a wind-aided time of 22.73 to take Heat 2. Kenondra Davis recorded a personal best in 22.74 to win Heat 5 and Kevona Davis’ time of 22.97 made the cut to advance to the next round.

Lauren Lewis (52.25) and Ziyah Holman (52.47) each reached the 400-meter quarters with automatic qualifying spots. Lewis matched her personal best with the 13^th-fastest time of the day.

The final Longhorn to advance was Olivia Howell who ran the 1500-meter in 4:20.80.