The LSU track and field teams hauled in 12 qualifying performances at the Conference Clash Power Five Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama.
Eight LSU athletes qualified for Saturday’s finals in the 60-meter hurdles, 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash. The Tigers and Lady Tigers look to put the Southeastern Conference on the scoreboard during the finals.
“Today was a positive step forward for our team,” said LSU head coach Dennis Shaver. “We’re still at that stage of the season where many of our athletes are opening up and competing in their events for the very first time, so to see some of the performances we did today was encouraging. Tomorrow gives us another opportunity to get just a little bit better as we progress through the season.”
Junior Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake achieved a personal-best in the 200-meter dash with a time of 20.89 seconds and advanced to Saturday’s final with the top time of the day. Mitchell-Blake’s previously recorded personal best time was 20.98 seconds during his sophomore season. 
Mitchell-Blake’s performance pushed him into the No. 2 spot in the NCAA rankings for the 2016 season. He also climbed into the No. 7 slot on LSU’s all-time indoor performance list in the event.
Mitchell-Blake was one of five Tigers to qualify in Friday’s 200-meter by winning their heats. Juniors Michael Cherry and Tremayne Acy will accompany Mitchell-Black in the final. Cherry achieved an indoor best of 21.13 second to qualify third Acy received the sixth-fastest time at 21.26 seconds to cross the finish line first in his round.
Junior Jordan Moore and sophomore Mikiah Brisco each added seasonal bests and became the NCAA’s No. 2-ranked performers in the men’s 60-meter hurdles and the women’s 60-meter dash, respectively. 
LSU’s freshmen Rachel Misher and Kortnei Johnson shined in their 200-meter dash debuts.. Misher finished third in the fourth heat with a time of 24.14 seconds, and Johnson placed second in the fifth round with a time of 24.17 to finish in 12th place and 13th place. 
The Tigers and Lady Tigers will finish competing Saturday at the Conference Clash Power Five Invitational in Birmingham, Alabama. The first field event will start at 11 a.m. The first of the finals on the track will begin at noon.