LEXINGTON, Ky. – Jasmine Jefferson from the Wofford College women's track and field team advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2024 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field East preliminary competition held at the University of Kentucky on Thursday afternoon.
 
Jefferson, a senior from Knoxville, Tennessee, ran in the fourth of six heats in the 400 meters. Starting in lane two, she held on to third place as she edged out Julia Jackson of Duke at the finish line in a school-record time of 53.03 to advance.
 
The top three from each heat, plus the next six fastest times advance to the quarterfinals on Saturday at 6:50 p.m. Overall, Ella Onojuvwevwo of LSU was the top finisher in 51.32. Jefferson's time was 20^th overall.
 
Jefferson won the 200 and 400 meters at the 2024 Southern Conference Outdoor Championship, along with titles in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. She was named Female Most Outstanding Track Performer with 25 total points in the meet. In the women's 400 meters, she had a first-place finish in 53.27 – three seconds faster than the second-place finisher and a Southern Conference meet record that was previously 53.55 set in 1995. Jefferson was also the 2024 SoCon Indoor Most Outstanding Track Performer, with wins in the 200 and 400 meters. She entered the preliminaries ranked 29^th in the region and is the fifth student-athlete from the women's team to qualify.
 
The top twelve qualifiers out of the two regions (24 total) will compete in the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships held June 5-8 in Eugene, Oregon.
 
This is the sixth straight season that the Terriers have advanced at least one participant to the NCAA East Preliminary. Cameron Dalton competed in the 200 meters on Wednesday evening for the men's team.