KAZAN, Russia – Indiana State's Felisha Johnson advanced to the final round of the women's shot put at the World University Games with the third best throw in the qualification rounds Wednesday in Central Stadium.

Johnson is competing in her first international competition as a member of Team USA and is the first female athlete from Indiana State to compete in track and field at the World University Games.

The Sycamore competed in the second qualification group with her best throw going 57'-9¾” (17.62 meters) which put her second in her group and third overall to automatically advance to the final round Thursday.

China's Xiangrong Liu won the first group and leads the field into the finals with a throw of 59'-1¼” (18.01 meters) with Russia's Irina Tarasova winning the second group and currently second overall with a throw of 58'-3¼” (17.76 meters).

The finals will start at 10:50 a.m. (ET) Thursday (7:50 p.m. Russian Standard Time).

“She performed very well, especially in the face of adversity leading up to today's qualifying round,” Erin Gilreath, Indiana State throws coach, said. “She was without her luggage until last night. She showed a lot of competitive maturity by being able to adjust and roll with the punches which is a big part of becoming a capable international competitor at the next level.”

Johnson has been training on her own since June 26 in preparation for the World University Games.

“I gave her a training plan to follow and put my trust in her to do what I asked of her and what was needed to do,” Gilreath said. “For the final I just told her to let loose, let it all out and for her to just enjoy the experience.

Also advancing to the shot put finals for Team USA was Southern Illinois University graduate Jeneva McCall who had a throw of 55'-9” (16.99 meters) which was eighth best through the first round. McCall is already a Gold medal winner at the World University Games as she captured the women's hammer throw, her best event, Wednesday with a throw of 241'-11” (73.75 meters).

Also in competition on Thursday will be Indiana State hurdler Greggmar Swift who will be running in the men's 110 meter hurdles for his native Barbados. The first three rounds of the 110 meter hurdles will start at 9:10 a.m. ET (6:10 p.m. RST) followed by the semifinals. The finals will run at 1:20 p.m. (10:20 p.m. RST).

Swift is the third member of the Indiana State men's track & field family to compete at the World University Games. Frankie Young placed 10th in the long jump at the 1999 World University Games in Palma de Mallorca, Spain while Aubrey Herring, who competed in the 110 meter hurdles at the 2001 Games in Beijing, China.

Swift ran his personal best of 13.48 seconds in placing second at the Barbados National Championship in June and also has the opportunity to compete for Barbados at the World Championships in Moscow this August.

The XXVII Summer Universiade is being in Kazan, Russia, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, through July 17. The Universiade, also known as the World University Games, is organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The games will be televised on ESPN3. The schedule follows:

Thursday, 10 a.m. (ET): http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/1028921/world-university-games-track-field

Friday, 10 a.m. (ET): http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index/_/id/1028933/world-university-games-track-field

2013 World University Games: http://kazan2013.ru/en

HUTSON UPDATE: Former Indiana State athlete Kylie Hutson competed at the Meeting International at Sottevile les Roven in France Monday on the Pro Athletes Tour but did not place as she failed to clear 14'-5¼” (4.40 meters) on her first three attempts. Team USA teammate Mary Saxer finished second by clearing 15'-1” (4.60 meters). Cuba's Yarisley Silva won the competition by clearing 15'-7” (4.75 meters) with Ireland's Tori Pena third by clearing 14'-9” (4.50 meters). Hutson is continuing her preparation for the 2013 World Championships which will be held in Moscow in August.