WALNUT, Calif. -- University of Nebraska at Omaha freshman sprinter Anja Puc finished 11th in the 400-meter dash prelims, a half-second short of qualifying for the finals in the NCAA Division II Track and Field championships Thursday night.

Puc, a native of Slovenia, ran the race in 55.80 seconds and finished third in the third heat. Erica Young of St. Augustine's ran a 55.26 for ninth place, the final qualifying spot for Saturday's finals. Michele Williams of Adams State was 10th with a time of 55.65.

Meisha Thompson of Lincoln University edged teammate Monique Robinson by a fraction of a second to win the prelims. Each was clocked in 54.51.

Puc was UNO's only representative at the national meet.