Complete results

AUSTIN, Texas – The complete contingent of San Francisco track and field athletes that qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary Championships competed on the first day of action at Mike A. Myers Stadium on Thursday evening.

The Dons opened the prelims with Elena Burkard and Kate Jamboretz in the 1,500 meters. Burkard, competing in the first contested heat of the event, started in lane 5 and ran on the rail to open the race. After bumping outside midway through, Burkard slipped down the ranks before finishing 11th in her heat with a time of 4:52.65. Later, Jamboretz opened in lane 10 of her section and started the race with gusto before eventually clocking in at 4:52.65 to take 12th in the heat.

Jana Soethout, vying for her third straight trip to the final rounds of the 10,000 m was next on the track for the Dons. Starting in the first position, she led the pack out of the gate and stayed in the top two for much of the race. Soethout, an All-American at the 10K distance, got caught in traffic and it cost her a shot at a repeat performance in Eugene, Ore. After getting clipped, the senior from Cologne, Germany, took a hard tumble to the surface of the track and was unable to finish the race.

Jose Madera capped the first day's action for USF, competing in the last contested event of the night. A three-time semifinalist in the 10K, Madera completed the distance in 31:56.16 to finish in 34th overall, in his last race for the Green and Gold.

After a challenging first day in Texas, Jamboretz and Burkard now prepare for Saturday's semifinals in the 5,000, which is slated for 6:05 p.m. PT.