Twenty-one athletes posting regional qualifying times early

John Lewis III (right) posted the second fastest 100m time in the country this season when he ran 10.13s at the Prairie View A&M Relays. | Thomas Dwyer/The CougarIn the outdoor track & field season, an athlete has to place only in the Top 48 of their respective event to qualify for either the West or East regional, depending on the location of the university. At regionals, an athlete has to place in the Top 12 of their event to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Oregon.

Three meets into the season, the Cougars are already putting up numbers that would send a majority of the squad to the NCAA West Regional. A combined 21 athletes and four relay teams have times inside the Top 48.…