DES MOINES (ISU) — Edward Kemboi did it by feel. Kianna Elahi did it by running her usual steady race. Both Iowa Staters qualified for their respective NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship finals by finishing second in the semifinals of the men’s 800 meters (Kemboi) and women’s 400-meter hurdles Wednesday at Drake Stadium.

Kemboi dropped back early in his 800-meter heat, but there was no come-from-the-back effort he used to win the Big 12 meet last month. He finished second to Iowa’s Erik Sowinski with a 1:46.20 clocking, the second-fastest time of his career. Sowinski ran 1:46.09.

Elahi hit her strides. She finished second in her heat with a 56.61 clocking, behind Ellen Wortham of Tennessee, who won in 55.67. Whatever happens in Friday’s final, the Omaha native will be an All-American.