After the first day of the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters tournament, what is certain is that Bear River's Kendal Nielsen will compete at the state championships.

For the rest of Thursday's competitors, they will have to wait another day and race again to determine their fates.

Nielsen finished with a distance of 17 feet 11 inches in the long jump, good enough for second place and a berth in the State Championships.

“At masters, it's do or die,” said Nielsen. “When you're ranked near the top, there's a lot of pressure. A lot of people expect you to make it.”

The No. 3-ranked junior did not disappoint. After getting injured at last year's divisional meet, Nielsen had extra incentive to prove herself on the field.

“It comes down to days like this,” she said. “This is what's important.”

Nevada Union's Natalie Migliozzi placed fifth in the long jump, tying a personal record with a jump of 17 feet, 1 inch.

Though she did not qualify for the state meet, she said she was happy with her performance.

“Last year, I was 13th in the long jump,” said Migliozzi. “So, this year is a big improvement. I'm really excited about it.”

She placed 10th in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 46.48 seconds, falling just .34 seconds outside of the qualifying time for finals.

It was only the seventh time she had run hurdles and she was proud that she set a personal record with her time, she said.

“I'm new to hurdles,” she said. “I just found out I could do it, and I'm really excited about it.”

Though this season is over for Migliozzi, she is just happy to make masters and is ready to focus on the next season.

“Masters is crazy. People are so good,” she said. “It's a privilege to be able to work with all these great athletes. I'm going to be in the weight room all summer, getting stronger.”

For her Nevada Union teammates, Brock Kraus and Calynn Stanford, the season will continue today in the finals of their respective races.

Though he was shooting for 48 seconds, 50.06 was good enough for Kraus to move on to the finals today in the 400-meter dash.

Kraus ran with Brandon Kishiyama, Josiah Paye and Gabe Humphers in the 400 meter relay. They finished 18th and were less than a second behind the finals qualifying teams.

Stanford placed ninth in the 200 to qualify for today's finals. Her time of 26.03 put her .03 seconds ahead of 10th-place finisher Nielsen.

The two also ran together, side by side in their lanes, in the 100. Though Nielsen had the edge in that race, by just .04 seconds, neither qualified for the finals.

In the final girls field event of the day, No. 6-ranked Cheyenne Toney placed fifth in the shot put, matching her finish from last season.

“I'm disappointed,” said Nevada Union's Toney. “But, I'm excited for next year. I'm going to be working up to that.”

But, the masters are not over for Toney. Today, she will compete in the discus throw, an event in which she is ranked No. 3.

After receiving her certificate for her fifth-place shot put finish, she discussed her chances in today's event.

“I'm super nervous,” she said. “Being ranked No. 3, I'm right on the edge of going. But, I'm excited for what tomorrow brings. Hopefully, it's a good day.”

Nielsen will compete today in the triple jump. Also, Dominic Castro-Wehr is set for the 1,600 and Simon Lambert is in the 3,200.

In addition to the 200, Stanford also will compete in the high jump.

The meet starts at 3 p.m. today at Sacramento City College.

To contact Sports Writer Anthony Barstow, e-mail abarstow@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4232.