JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Northwestern State started the NCAA East Preliminaries two-for-two in advancing sprinters Wednesday on the first day of action at North Florida's Hodges Stadium.

Kie'Ave Harry and Kennedy Harrison advanced on time in the 100 and 200 meters, respectively, and will run in Friday's finals with a chance to go to the NCAA Championships.

"A very good day for us with both guys doing exactly what they needed to do," said NSU coach Mike Heimerman. "They did exactly what we wanted them to do, and now they're running their individual races on top of the 4x100 relay on Friday."

Harry pushed through in the 100 with a 10.27, placing fifth in the fastest of six heats.

"Kie'Ave ran a great race, had a great start but pressed a little bit at the end," Heimerman said. "He got a little tight at the end, his hamstring pulled and he backed off and still ran 10.27.

"He and (NSU sprints coach Adam Pennington) will regroup and get ready for the finals."

Harrison hung with the nation's fastest 200 runner (LSU's Terrance Laird) for the first 125 meters, finishing fourth in his heat with a 20.90.

"Kennedy was tit for tat (with Laird) through the curve, but Laird is a finisher and showed us why he's the nation's fastest runner," Heimerman said. "But it shows the composure of a young man like Kennedy to have somebody like Laird to the right of him and to still run his race.

"We told him from the beginning to run his race and not Laird's race, and when the lanes are staggered like that, it can play with your mind. We wanted Kennedy to make the final, and it's just huge for him because this is his first outdoor season."

Harry's 10.27 was the last time to qualify in the 24-runner final, finishing 23^rd on his raw time in the 48-runner field.

The senior, who has run at the NCAA East Preliminaries and the NCAA Championships as part of the 2018 4x100 relay, is making his first regional appearance as an individual.

Harrison, a second-year freshman who is competing in his first outdoor season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, placed 22^nd overall in the 48-runner field.

His 20.90 is three-hundreths off his personal best of 20.87. He entered the regionals ranked 39^th.

The finals for both events take place Friday along with NSU competing in the 4x100 relay with Harry, Harrison, Javin Arrington and Tre'Darius Carr. The 100 meters start at 6:05 p.m. and the 200 at 7:10 p.m.

The top 12 from the 24-runner finals will advance to the NCAA Championships.

NSU will have a busier today Thursday on the women's first day of action.

Jasmyn Steels kicks it off at 2 p.m. in the long jump.

Janiel Moore will compete in two hurdles, the 100 hurdles at 5 p.m. and the 400 hurdles at 6:20 p.m.

Sprinter Natashia Jackson will also double up, running the 400 meters at 6:25 p.m. and the 200 at 7:45 p.m.