DES MOINES, Iowa – NSU sprinter Sean Holston and long jumper Champagne Bell capped their stellar outdoor track & field seasons on Wednesday night in the semifinals of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on the campus of Drake University.

Neither advanced to the finals in their respective events, but both earned honorable mention All-America honors by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) by virtue of qualifying for nationals.

Holston placed fifth in his heat and 19th overall out of 24 runners in the semifinals of the men's 400 meters. He posted a time of 46.17 seconds, the third-best effort of his career. Holston, the MEAC 400-meter champion, posted those three best times in his last three events, running a PR of 46.00 at the MEAC outdoor finals, a 46.13 at the NCAA East regional, and a 46.17 on Wednesday night.

Texas A&M All-American Demetrius Pinder (45.35) and defending NCAA outdoor champion Kirani James of Alabama (45.51) earned the top two spots in Holston's 400 heat to secure the automatic berths in the finals. The top two from each of the three heats, plus the next two fastest times, comprise the eight-man final on Friday night.

Bell capped her rookie collegiate outdoor season with a 22nd-place finish in the women's long jump. Her best leap was 5.96 meters, or 19 feet, 6.75 inches. Bell was the first Spartan woman to advance to the NCAA outdoor nationals since All-American long jumper Tianna Goldring in 2004. Bell's rookie season included a MEAC indoor long jump title and runner-up finishes at the conference outdoor meet in both the long jump and 400 meters.

Tori Bowie of Southern Miss (6.63 meters) was the women's long jump champion.

Spartan 110-meter hurdler Aramis Massenburg and long jumper Darris Shelton, NSU's other two national qualifiers, will compete on Thursday.