PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Norfolk State women's 4x100 meter relay team placed eighth in Thursday's preliminary rounds to earn a spot in Friday's Championship of America 4x100 final for the first time in program history.

The Spartan quartet of Torie Cunningham, Qua'Nesha Wallace, Champagne Bell and Brittney McCants finished second in its heat in a time of 45.41 seconds, the team's second-fastest time of the season. The Spartans trailed only four-time defending Penn Relays champion Texas A&M in Heat 1 (44.33). Only the top eight qualifying times out of the 77 teams entered advance to the Championship of America final on Friday afternoon.

Their performance capped a strong first day for the NSU women. Champagne Bell finished second in the college section of the women's long jump, with a best jump of 19 feet, 7 inches. Freshman thrower Kiara Howell earned two top-10 finishes, taking sixth in the college women's shot put with a season-best throw of 48 feet, 2.75 inches and 10th in the college discus (151-2).

Competition continues Friday afternoon.