SACRAMENTO, Calif. - After a disappointing first day at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships, Sarah Stevens and teammate Jessica Pressley gave the favored Arizona State women's team hope in the shot put as both advanced to the finals with solid performances in the preliminaries.

Stevens, a sophomore from Hot Springs, who won the indoor championship in the shot put this fall, placed fifth with a throw of 54-feet, 1-1/4 inches. Pressley was second with a 55-2 effort.

Michelle Carter of Texas had the top throw with a heave of 56-3-1/4.

The duo suffered a major setback on Wednesday in the discus when they both failed to get past the qualifying round. Stevens, who had the top mark in the field this season at 189 feet, 5 inches, managed just a 159-10 effort, which was 21st among the competitors and nearly 30 feet shy of her best. Pressley was 14th at 164-6.