JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Oakland track star Ja-Van Poole set the track ablaze in his trip to the NCAA East Region First Rounds in Jacksonville, Fla., earning a trip to the NCAA Championships behind a record-breaking performance.

Poole began his trip south with the prelims on Thursday just shortly after midnight due to a weather delay. Even with a nearly four hour delay, he easily qualified for the quarterfinal by placing second in his heat with a time of 50.37s, nearly breaking the program record once again.

As he returned to the track for the Quarterfinals on Friday, the senior standout would close in on the record which he already broke twice this season, running a lightning-quick time of 49.87s, marking the first sub-50 second time in program history. He would place third in his heat, automatically securing a championship bid.

Poole will now travel west as he competes in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore. from June 11 to 14.