RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros outdoor track & field program announced on Thursday that five student-athletes have qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary Round. 
 
Junior Aisha Gay, graduate student Marlene Gutierrez, freshman Sam Johnson II, freshman Rayja'nae Pettit and freshman Jedidiah Udunna will be competing May 24-27 at Sacramento State's Hornet Stadium for a chance to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. 
 
The top 48 ranked student-athletes in every individual event and top 24 relay teams qualify for the East and West preliminary meets. The top 12 finishers in each event at both preliminaries will advance to the championship meet. 
 
"Making an exclusive championship is a badge of honor in our sport and a true indication of where we stand in the nation. To qualify several student-athletes from multiple event groups shows that we are a complete program," track & field/cross country head coach Shareese Hicks said. "Having championship meet experience sparks the desire to go further. The student-athletes that have qualified have begun their legacy at our university that will inspire and energize the entire team for years to come."  
 
Udunna will compete Wednesday at 8 p.m. (CT) in the men's long jump and heads to the meet ranked T-19^th in the nation with a jump of 7.80 meters. Johnson will run in the first round of the men's 400-meter dash at 9:25 p.m. (CT) Wednesday and is ranked 44^th in the event with a time of 46.25. 
 
Gutierrez will compete in the women's hammer throw Thursday at 12 p.m. (CT). She is ranked 23^rd in the west with a mark of 62.03 meters. Pettit competes in the women's long jump at 8 p.m. (CT) Thursday and heads to the meet ranked T-38^th with a mark of 6.16 meters. Gay will be the 39^th seed in the women's 400-meter dash with a time of 53.30 and compete in the first round Thursday at 9:25 p.m. (CT). 
 
The top 24 finishers in the first round of running events will advance to the quarterfinal round. The men's 400-meter dash quarterfinal race will run on May 26, and the women's races will run on May 27. 
 
The NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held June 7-10 in Austin. 

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