Sacramento, CA Virginia sophomore Billie Jo Grant advanced to the finals of the discus at the NCAA Track and Field Championship on Wednesday while three other Cavalier runners failed to move on from their preliminary heats in the steeplechase and 5,000 meters.

Grant was fourth in her flight and seventh overall with a toss of 50.66 meters. Her other throws were 50.26 meters and 48.82 meters. Amarachi Ukabam of Southern Illinois had the day's best effort at 55.25 meters.

Grant will compete in the discus finals which are scheduled for 3:45 p.m. PT Friday. Last year she earned All-American honors in the event with a ninth-place finish.

Grant will compete in the women's shot put Thursday at 7:15 p.m. PT.

In the steeplechase, Jan Foerster and Soeren Lindner failed to advance to he finals. Competing in the same heat, Foerster clocked a time of 9:07.97 to place 12th while Linder was 13th at 9:26.76. Foerster was 23rd overall inthe prelims while Linder was 26th

Andy Biladeau was 12th in his heat of the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:20.64 and did not move on to the finals. His time placed him 21st overal in the prelims.

In addition to Grant participating in the shot put, Virginia's Erin Crawford will compete in the women's 400-meter intermediate hurdles at 4:15 p.m.. She is the Cavaliers' school record holder in the event.