Missouri State’s Leander Ernest and Jamie Vest competed in Wednesday's preliminary rounds of the 800-meter run and the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Ernest finished fifth in her heat and 19^th overall in the 800m with a run of 2:08.91 and Vest crossed the line in 12^th in her heat and 26^th overall in the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 10:58.75.

Both Ernest and Vest came up just short in their bid to advance to Thursday's semifinal rounds. In the 800-meter run, the top three performers in each of the four preliminary heats move on, as did the next four finishers overall. In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the top five performers of each of the two heats move on, as did the next four best times.