Results

        BROOKINGS, S.D. — Both 1,600-meter relay teams from Xavier University of Louisiana advanced Thursday to the finals at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships.
        The XULA women's team of Fedjine Bell, Jaelyn Mitchell, Nevaeh Lacey and Kynnedy Turner, competing in the first of three heats, finished fourth in its race and eighth overall in 3 minutes, 50.93 seconds. The Gold Nuggets grabbed the last spot in the final, and they were 79 hundredths of a second faster than No. 9 Cornerstone (3:51.72).
        Olivet Nazarene led the women's qualifiers with 3:45.34 — they were in the first heat, too — and defending champion Life was fifth in 3:49.51. William Carey, the 2023 national runner-up, was second Thursday in 3:46.80.
        XULA's Jaheene Bell, Juston Tweh, Daunté Kelly and Winston Young, in the first of three men's heats, finished second in their race and fourth overall in 3:13.86. William Carey led the qualifiers in 3:12.28, and defending champion Southeastern (Fla.) was eighth in 3:14.71.
        The 1,600 relays were XULA's only competition during the meet's first day. The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will compete in four additional events apiece during the next two days.

Photos by Yamlak Tsega