Minnesota Duluth senior Liz Palkie of Carlton and freshman Morgan Place of Ellsworth, Wis., advanced to finals Thursday in the NCAA Division II championships in San Angelo, Texas.

Palkie, a four-time All-American, was second in her 800-meter heat in 2 minutes, 10.79 seconds behind Northwest Nazarene senior Ashley Puga’s leading time of 2:09.93. UMD senior Alyssa Wendt just missed in advancing, finishing fourth in her heat in 2:12:39. Eight advanced to today’s 7:37 p.m. final.

Place was fifth in her 5,000-meter heat in 17:22.11. Western Washington sophomore Sarah Porter led 12 qualifiers in 17:15.90. The final is 8:43 p.m. today.

Also Friday, UMD senior Maria Swanson placed 11th in a field of 18 in the women’s shot put with a throw of 44 feet, 5½ inches. San Angelo State senior Adree Lakey won the event with 52-10.