Austin, Texas ? On the opening day of the NCAA West Preliminary on Thursday, Kansas University qualified four track and field athletes for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Alena Krechyk qualified in the hammer throw (second place at 67.85 meters, or 222 feet, 7 inches), Jonathan Miller earned a bid in men’s discus (12th, 56.12 meters, 184-1), and Andrea Geubelle (first, 6.52 meters, 21-43/4) and Sydney Conley (ninth, 6.26 meters, 20-61/2) qualified in the long jump.

However, KU’s Francine Simpson, the nation’s No. 2 overall seed in the long jump, failed to qualify for the final after going just 6.11 meters (20-01/2).

The meet continues today.