CARSON, Calif. — LSU junior Kelly Willie advanced to the semifinals in the men’s 400 meters Thursday as action from the USA Track and Field Championships got underway at the Home Depot Center.
Willie earned an automatic bid to the second round after finishing third in his prelim heat with a time of 46.04. Willie was bettered only by 2004 Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Wariner (45.29) and 2003 World Championships silver medalist Tyree Washington (45.95).
Also in action were former Tigers Walter Davis and John Moffitt in the long jump.
Davis just missed a berth on the world championship team, finishing fourth overall, one spot shy of the automatic bid. The two-time Olympian turned in his best jump of the evening (26-2 1/4) on his final attempt, but came up just over four inches short of the third-place finish.
Moffitt finished eighth in the final standings, jumping 25-2 1/2.
Action from the USA Championships continues Friday at 10:30 a.m. (CT).