DES MOINES, Iowa – America's fastest sprinters burned up the track Thursday evening at Drake Stadium in the opening round of the men's 100 meter dash at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, but neither Northwestern State entry was able to advance to Friday's semifinals.
 
Two-time 4x100 meter relay All-American and two-time honorable mention 100 meter dash All-American Micah Larkins wrapped up his junior season with a 23^rd-place finish, running 10.237.
 
Two-time first-team All-American Justin Walker, a 2014 senior at NSU, was a fraction faster in 10.232 and was 21^st.
 
Competing professionally since NSU, Walker will run in Saturday's 200 meter opening round, along with 2018 Demon senior Amir James, also a two-time relay All-American and a 2016 honorable mention All-American in the 100.
 
A 10.18 time, the mark that Larkins posted at the NCAA Championships earlier this month, was required to make the 16-man semifinal round Friday.
 
Atop the qualifiers was Mike Rodgers, who ran the world's fastest time in 2018, 9.89. It was one of four under 10 seconds:  Noah Lyles at 9.92, along with Isiah Young and NCAA champion Cameron Burrell at 9.93.
 
Sam Houston State's Chris Jefferson, who Larkins beat in 10.12 on May 6 to win the Southland Conference 100 crown, matched that time Thursday evening and was the 10^th fastest qualifier, moving on to the finals.
 
Along with James and Walker in the men's 200 opening round Saturday, Lady Demon senior De'Shalyn Jones will run Saturday in the women's 200 qualifying.
 
James twice broke the NSU 200 dash standard this season, posting a 20.41 at the NCAA East Preliminary Round. It's the ninth-fastest time among the 28 qualifiers in the opening round Saturday.
 
Walker ranks 15^th with a 2018 best of 20.49.
 
Jones, who collected both Southland Conference Female Track and Field Athlete of the Year and the conference Female Track and Field Student-Athlete of the Year honors, has a school-record 23.04 best in the 200. That ranks 21^st among 31 USA Outdoor qualifiers.
 
NBC Sports Gold is providing coverage of all four days of competition, with NBC Sports going live from 3-5 Saturday and Sunday.