2015 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships Info

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Shorter junior Ayana Walker is one race away from becoming an NCAA national champion when she earned ran the second fastest time to earn a spot in the 400-meter finals at the 2015 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships.

In her preliminary heat Friday at the Birmingham Crossplex, Walker broke her own school of 54.91 seconds she set earlier this season in the indoor 400 by winning her first NCAA championship outing in 54.77 seconds.

Posting the top time in the 400 heats was Carly Muscaro on Merrimack, who was clocked in 54.71.

Walker returns to the boards on Saturday running in the 400 final scheduled for a 5:35 p.m. start.

In her 200 preliminary heat that took place after she qualified for the 400 final, Walker eased up to run a 25.34 that put her outside the top eight final finishers.

Also on Saturday, freshman Alfred Chelanga will take the track for the first time when the line Hawk competing in his first-ever NCAA national championship – he's the lone freshman in the field – runs in the 3,000-meter all-final race that starts at 7 p.m.