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Five things to watch at NCAA track and field West Preliminary in Lawrence

The NCAA West Preliminary runs Thursday through Saturday at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence. The event will include track and field athletes from the 121 Division I schools west of the Mississippi River who rank top 48 in their respective events. The top 12 athletes and relays advance to the NCAA Championships on June 8-11 in Eugene, Oregon.

Here are five things to watch for:

A pair of local steeplechase runners should be a main attraction starting at 8:50 p.m. Friday. New Mexico’s Courtney Frerichs — a Nixa, Mo., native and former UMKC runner — has the top time in the region by more than 18 seconds and also is a 2016 Olympics hopeful.