COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Ashtyn Davis advanced to the next round and McKay Johnson scored a point as California track & field competed at the NCAA Indoor Championships at Gilliam Indoor Stadium on Friday evening.
 
McKay Johnson got the Bears on the board with an eighth place finish in the men's shot put. Johnson sat in 11^th heading to the third and final throw of the first round, but he unleashed a toss of 63-5.50 to move into eighth and earn a spot in the finals. Johnson had a couple of good throws in the finals, but he was called for fouls. Johnson finishes the indoor season with the school record in the indoor shot put.
 
"McKay threw well in the prelims but pressed too much in the finals and did not improve," director of track & field/cross country Tony Sandoval said. "Nevertheless, McKay is so young in this event, and the sky is the limit for him."

Ashtyn Davis advanced to the finals of the 60m hurdles with a time of 7.74. Davis was stationed in lane six and was able to cross the line fourth in heat one. The first heat was the faster of the two as it featured the five fastest times and six of the eight qualifiers for tomorrow's final. Davis had a personal best of 7.71 this year. Grant Holloway of Florida topped the field with a time of 7.58.

"Ashtyn Davis started well well in the prelims of the 60 but hit a number of hurdles along the way," Sandoval said. "We think he will run even faster in the finals tomorrow but of course those indoors those races are very close."

Senior Bethan Knights rounded out the first day of action for Cal as she competed in the women's 5000m competition. Knights went out with the lead group, falling in just behind the favorite Karissa Schweizer of Missouri. Knights kept up that pace for the first nine laps of the race. However, she was not able to hold on and finished with a time of 16:18.51 to take 12th place.

"Bethan ran well in a very tactical race and finished 12th," Sandoval noted. "The last mile was so competitive, but she did well and improved her pre-meet ranking of 15th."
 
The Bears will continue action at the NCAA Championships tomorrow as Lauren Martinez, Tuomas Kaukolahti and Davis will be in action. Martinez will compete in the pole vault at 2 p.m. PT followed by Kaukolahti on the triple jump runway at 3 p.m. Davis will run in the 60m hurdle finals at 3:10 p.m.
 
Friday Results
Men's 60m Hurdles (Semifinals): 4. Ashtyn Davis, 7.74
Men's Shot Put: 8. McKay Johnson, 63-5.50
Women's 5000m: 12. Bethan Knights, 16:18.51
 
Saturday Schedule (All times Pacific)
Women's Pole Vault - 2:00 p.m.
Men's Triple Jump - 3:00 p.m.
Men's 60m Hurdles (Finals) - 3:10 p.m.