EMPORIA, Kan. – The Cal State San Marcos women's track & field team's Rasha Badrani qualified for the final of the women's 400-meter hurdles while the men's team's Nick Melanese concluded his season in the men's 1500-meter run at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday at Welch Stadium on the campus of Emporia State University.

Badrani had the eighth-fastest time in the women's 400-meter prelim at 59.57 seconds - her third-fastest performance of the season. The San Marcos native is the first Cougar to advance out of the prelim round and make it to the final at the NCAA Championships. Natalie Rodriguez is the only other Cougar in program history to compete in a final as she did so in the women's 5000-meter run at the 2018 NCAA Championships - an event that does not have a prelim. Badrani will be the only student-athlete from the West Region in Saturday's final.
 
Melanese wrapped up his season as he finished 19th in the men's 1500-meter run prelim with a time of 4:09.75. Earlier in the day, Melanese was awarded the NCAA Elite 90 Award for having the highest cumulative grade-point average among those participating on the men's side at this year's NCAA Championships.

Badrani will compete for the NCAA Division II Championship in the 400-meter hurdles on Saturday at 2:20 p.m. (PT).