MYRTLE BEACH, SC – The Buffalo State women's track and field team opened competition at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with a pair of impressive performances, as Makhia Laster (Buffalo, NY/Tapestry Charter) took third in the long jump and earned First Team All-America honors, and Natalia Sawyer (Schenectady, NY/Schalmont) began her national title defense in the 400-meter hurdles by securing her spot in the finals with the second-fastest qualifying time.

Seeded third entering the week, Laster joined the competition as part of Flight 2, with the top mark after Flight One being set by Rainah Dunham of Ursinus at 5.98 meters. On her first jump, Laster leapt 5.89 meters to move into third place behind Dunham and Maya Evans of Wisconsin-La Crosse, who posted a mark of 5.90 meters on her first jump of Flight 2. Laster could not better her mark in the prelims, as her second jump was a fault and the third jump measured 5.50 meters, but still secured qualification into the finals. On her fourth jump, Laster recorded a mark of 5.14 meters. Her fifth jump was also a fault, leaving her still in third place with one jump remaining. Her final jump measured 5.38 meters, remaining in third place as none of the other competitors could surpass that mark. The third-place finish helped Laster to her first First Team All-America honor of her career.

Laster's six points for third place also puts Buffalo State in a tie for ninth place in team scoring at the time of publication. 

On the track, Sawyer was ranked second heading into competition, and was part of Heat 1 in the prelims. Starting in Lane 2, the sophomore quickly made up the stagger on the competition through the first four hurdles. Entering the final 100 meters, Sawyer had pulled away from the rest of the heat, and comfortably cruised to the heat win to secure one of three automatic qualification spots into Saturday's finals. Her time of 58.78 seconds was a season-best mark, and was one of only three competitors to finish under the minute mark. Ren Brown of the University of Chicago posted the top qualifying time of 58.23 seconds heading into the finals on Saturday.

Sawyer is back in action tomorrow in the 100-meter hurdles prelims at 4:10 pm.