Kansas' Dixon, Finley Advance in Shenzhen

Aug. 15, 2011

SHENZHEN, China – Both of KU’s representatives at this year’s World University Games advanced in their respective events here Tuesday morning. Sophomore Diamond Dixon moved on to the semi-finals of the 400 meters, while junior Mason Finley advanced to the finals of the shot put.

Dixon, who hails from El Paso, Texas, claimed an automatic qualification to the next round by virtue of winning her quarterfinal heat. The Big 12 400-meter champion rounded the track in a time of 53.67, a mark in which only six of the other 36 were able to top in the opening heats.

Dixon will lace up her spikes again on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., (5:30 a.m. Central) for the semifinals of the women’s 400 meters. The field, which has been whittled down to 24 will be sliced to eight for the event final. If Dixon were to advance once again, she would run at 8:05 p.m., Thursday night (Thursday at 7:05 a.m., Central).

Finley also had a solid first outing as he only needed one throw to move on to his event final. If he had any nerves, Finley didn’t let it show because on his first attempt of the competition he launched a throw of 18.92 meters (62-01.00 ft.) to move up to second in his flight. That is all the work he would need to put in for the morning session. He would go on to pass on his final two attempts in order to save his energy for the final. The Salida, Colo., native will enter his final round of throws having notched the third-best mark of the preliminary flights and will again enter the oval for the shot put final later today at 7:45 p.m. (6:45 a.m., Central)

Finley’s week will not be complete once he is finished with the shot put tonight, however. He will be competing in the discus throw later this week, which begins with the qualification rounds on Friday morning and concludes with the event final on Sunday afternoon.

For results and updates of Dixon and Finley’s progress in Shenzhen, stay connected to kuathletics.com.