ROCHESTER, NY – Nat Sawyer (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) and Shevaughn Allen (Buffalo, NY/JFK) kicked things off at NCAA Outdoor Championships today at St. John Fisher University as Sawyer ran the prelims of the 400-meter hurdles while Allen competed in the long jump.
 
Sawyer will be the top seed heading into finals on Saturday with a new facility record time of 58.90 seconds. Sawyer was the only runner in her heat to run sub-1:00.00 and is joined by Emma Lawrence of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Birgen Nelson Gustavus Adolphus as the only three runners who bested the 1:00.00 mark in the prelims. Finals for the 400-meter hurdles will take place on Saturday.
 
Sawyer will aim to keep the momentum going as she will run the prelims of the 100-meter hurdles tomorrow afternoon.
 
Allen opened his weekend of action with a 12^th place finish in the long jump. His jump of 7.10 meters was less than a tenth of a meter short of earning him three extra jumps in the finals. Allen's third jump was his final mark.
 
Allen will wrap-up his Buffalo State-debut season on Saturday when he competes in the triple event. Allen is currently the top-seed in the event at 15.66 meters.