GULF SHORES, Ala. — Xavier University of Louisiana freshman Shalysa Wray broke her school record in the 200-meter dash Thursday and anchored the 400 relay team to a berth in the finals during the opening day of the NAIA National Outdoor Track and Field Championships.Wray's 200 time of 24.11 seconds was third fastest out of 23 participants and broke her XULA record of 24.15 set April 18 at the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships. Wray advanced to the final at 5:10 p.m. Saturday.
Another XULA freshman, Ariel Ford, was 12th in 24.74 and missed the final by 25 hundredths of a second.
XULA advanced to the 400 relay final after unsuccessful attempts each of the past six years, including near misses in the 2018 and 2015 preliminaries. Justyce Riggs, Ford, Alexis Milton and Wray produced the day's fifth-fastest time, 46.60. They'll compete for the title at 2:40 p.m. Saturday.
This is Milton's fourth consecutive year and Riggs's third straight year to compete in this relay at nationals.
"I'm feeling good for Alexis and Justyce," XULA head coach Yhann Plummer said. "They have worked so hard to help us get to the final."
Riggs was XULA's representative when the NAIA honored Champions of Character athletes during opening ceremonies. Each team at the meet with significant numbers of qualifiers can nominate one recipient who best exemplifies the Champions of Character traits of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.
XULA entries in Friday prelims will be Wray and Milton in the 100 at 2:50 p.m., Ford in the 400 at 3:30 p.m. and Wray, Alexis Williams, Raven Riley and Ford in the 1,600 relay at 7:45 p.m. Edward Angel, a men's high jump All-American a year ago, will compete at 4:30 p.m.
Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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