DES MOINES, Iowa – Shana Cox won her first-round heat Wednesday in the 400 meters as the NCAA Championships got under way at Drake Stadium, the first time the meet has been held at this venerable building, home of the Drake Relays, in 38 years.

Cox, a senior at Penn State, won Heat III in 52.55, qualifying for Friday’s semifinals, and her teammate, Dominque Blake, fellow New Yorker, advanced on time, running 53.44 for 3^rd place in Heat V.

Two other New Yorkers failed to advance in the women’s 400. Jeavon Benjamin (Hempstead, LI) missed qualifying by .08, running 53.79 for 6^th in Heat I for Arizona State; Jessica Clarke (Murry Bergtraum, NYC) ran 54.44 for 5^th in Heat II for TCU.