PITTSBURG, Kan. – Western Washington University's Mac Franks qualified for the finals in the 800m at the 2022 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships on Friday at the Robert W. Plaster Center
 
Franks (Lake Forest Park, WA/Shorecrest) continued his banner season that has already seen him break WWU record in the 800m (1:50.07), mile (4:02.28), 3,000m (8:09.40) and as the anchor leg of the distance medley relay.
 
He was up against a big challenge Friday at indoor nationals racing in the mile and 800m with just 70 minutes between events.
 
In his first race of the day, Franks just missed out on qualifying for the finals in the mile, racing the 10th-fastest time in 4:08.61. He placed fourth in his qualifying heat – one off the automatic qualifier for placing in the top three – but was not able to crack the top nine to race on Saturday missing the mark by just 21/100th of a second. His 10th-place finish with earn him Second Team USTFCCCA All-America honors.
 
Franks rebounded well, coming back less than an hour later to earn a spot in the finals of the men's 800m by earning an automatic qualifying spot, taking second in the third preliminary heat. His time of 1:51.41 was the fifth-fastest in the opening rounds. He will race at 4:25 pm PT/6:25 pm CT in the 800m finals.
 
WWU senior Beau Sheeran will compete in the men's high jump on Saturday starting at 1:30 pm PT/3:30 pm CT.