WKU’s 4×100 meter relay team broke the school record of 39.18 seconds on the first day of the NCAA Championships on Wednesday as the team advanced to the semifinals with a fifth-place finish.

The team consists of juniors Kyree King, Ventavius Sears, Emmanuel Dasor and sophomore Julius Morris. They all four earned First Team All-American honors Wednesday as they set a new school record time of 38.85 seconds

WKU and the University of Houston are the only non-power five schools to make the finals where they will go up against teams from the SEC, the Big 12, the ACC and the Pac-12. 

“I’m very proud of this group,” Head Coach Erik Jenkins said in a press release. “They have competed at a very high level today and we look forward to the opportunity to compete again on Friday.”

The 4×100 meter relay team will compete in the finals on Friday at 7:32 p.m. CT.

Morris and King also gave notable performances in the 200 meter dash on Wednesday as they both earned Second Team All-American honors. 

King also clocked a time of 10.36 seconds in the 100 meter dash on his way to a 17^th place finish which earned him Honorable Mention All-American.

Other athletes on the track and field team enjoyed strong days at the national championships as well. 

Senior Tomas Guerra ended his career The Hill with an 11^th place finish in the javelin off an effort of 70.34 meters. The throw was good enough to earn Second Team All-American Honors as Guerra finishes his career at WKU as a four-time All-American.

Tomas and his brother Ignacio (2011-12) have now given WKU an All-American javelin thrower in six-consecutive seasons.

“Tomas has done an amazing job for us the last four years,” Jenkins said in a press release. “The Guerra brothers have earned six consecutive All-American honors and that is quite an accomplishment!” 

Graduate student Vincent Wyatt earned 18^th place finish after recording a time of 13.84 seconds in the 110 meter hurdles. Freshman Maor Seged finished his first NCAA Championship appearance by placing 22^nd in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 53.69 seconds. 

Both performances earned each athlete Honorable Mention All-American honors. 

The 4×400 relay team of senior Ja’Karyus Redwine, Dasor, King and Sears turned in an Honorable Mention All-American performance after clocking a time of 3:07.71 seconds and finishing in 18^th place.

On Friday, Freshman Keenon Laine will be the first-ever Hilltopper to participate in the high jump competition. The event is set to start at approximately 7 p.m. CT.