COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Ethan Thomas (shot put) and Jiri Ceska (800 meters) were the first North Dakota track and field athletes to compete at the NCAA West Preliminary Round on Wednesday.

Thomas finished 35th in the shot put with a toss of 57-11 1/4 (17.66m). His throw gave him the longest throw at the NCAA Regional in program history and he also now owns the best finish in the event in school history on the men's side at the meet. The previous best shot put throw for UND at the NCAA Regional was owned by Shawn Johnson, who had a toss of 53-9 1/4 (16.39m) at the 2014 NCAA West Preliminary Round. By throwing the shot, Thomas became just the fourth UND athlete on the men's side to compete in the event at the meet in program history.

The Grand Forks native qualified for the regional with a throw of 63-7 3/4 (19.40m) at the Triton Invitational in California at the beginning of April, where he captured the elite section crown. While winning the title, he obliterated the previous school record mark of 58-10 (17.93m), which was set by Chris Evenson at the 2021 Mizzou Spring Opener.

At the Summit League Outdoor Championships two weeks ago, Thomas was a two-time All-Summit League performer and was named the Newcomer of the Championship at the end of the meet. He was the silver medalist in the javelin with a throw of 201-10 (61.53m) and climbed from No. 8 to No. 5 on the UND top-10 list on the opening day of the conference championships. On the final day of the meet, Thomas scored the final six points for North Dakota and earned the bronze medal in the shot put with a toss of 58-0 1/4 (17.68m).

During the regular season, Thomas set the school record in the shot put (63-7 3/4, 19.40m) and currently sits No. 2 on the UND top-10 list in the discus (181-3, 55.24m), No. 5 in the javelin (201-10, 61.53m) and No. 10 in the hammer throw (175-8, 53.54m). He also won nine event titles during the season, highlighted by four shot put crowns.

In three weeks, Thomas will return to action and will be doing the shot put and discus at the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., on June 19-20.

Ceska took 40th in the 800 meters with a time of 1:50.64. With his time, he now has the second-fastest 800-meter time on the men's side at the meet in school history, trailing only Jesse Middendorf, who ran a time of 1:50.50 at the 2023 NCAA West Preliminary Round. Ceska is now the fourth runner in UND history on the men's side to compete at the meet in the 800 meters.

Ceska drew heat one and was shy of the time to qualify for the 800-meter quarterfinal on Friday. The final qualifying time in his heat went to Edouard Lecrivain of Texas Christian, who ran a time of 1:48.96.

The native from the Czech Republic was the final qualifier for the NCAA West Preliminary Round in the 800 meters and entered the meet as the No. 48 seed with a time of 1:48.67 at the Bryan Clay Invitational. At that meet in Azusa, Ceska posted a new school record and edged out the previous record time of 1:48.97, which was set by Alec Nelson at the 2023 Kip Janvrin Open.

Two weeks ago, Ceska surged in the final 100 meters at the Summit League Outdoor Championships to gain the silver medal in the 800 meters and receive All-Summit League honors with a time of 1:51.51.

During the regular season, Ceska set the school record with his time of 1:48.67 in the 800 meters and was also on the 4x400-meter relay team, which ran a time of 3:15.33 at the conference meet and currently ranks No. 4 in school history. He also won the 4x400-meter title during the regular season at the NDSU Tune-Up in 3:16.50.

Kenna Curry (hammer throw and shot put), Jerzie Finstad (400 meters) and Jadyn Keeler (10,000 meters) will resume action for the Fighting Hawks at the NCAA West Preliminary Round on Thursday. Live results will continue to be provided by Flash Results and select events happening inside the stadium will be live streamed on ESPN+.