AUSTIN, Tex.  --- Five things to know about Bethune-Cookman's Monae Nichols competing at the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track And Field Championships Thursday.

ALL BY HERSELF: Nichols is the lone BCU competitor this year by virtue of her eighth place finish at the NCAA East Preliminary two weeks ago at the University of North Florida. This is her second appearance at Nationals – she was a member of the 2018 4X100 relay team.

INDIVIDUAL: Nichols will be the first from BCU  to compete in the long jump and the first individual to compete at outdoor Nationals since Tristie Johnson ran the 100 meters in 2016. Quamecha Morrison has qualified for indoor Nationals in the high jump the past two seasons.

GETTING HERE: Nichols won last year's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference outdoor long jump title and took the indoor championship back in February. After posting a jump of 20 feet, 6 ½" that put her among the nation's top 20 in March, injuries have hindered the sophomore from Lakeland, Fla. She finished third at MEAC last month, but rallied and posted a 20'1 at the East Preliminary to punch a ticket to Austin.

THE COMPETITION: Aliyah Whisby of Georgia enters with the nation's best leap of 22-2 ¼", followed by Yanis David of Florida (21-10) and Sarea Alexander of Incarnate Word (21-8). A field of 24, including Nichols, is slated to compete.

COVERAGE: Click on links for live updates and follow our official twitter feed -- @BCUtrackxc.