Caitlyn Bobb advanced to the quarter-finals of the 400 metres at the NCAA East Regional first round in Jacksonville, Florida, on Thursday.

The Bermudian sprinter clocked 51.53sec to come a second in heat six to Maygan Shaw, of Northwestern State University. Bobb, of Virginia Tech, and Shaw were the three from the heat to progress, along with Opeyemi Oke from Auburn.

“The race was OK,” she told The Royal Gazette. “Not my best, not my sloppiest.

“Due to the incoming inclement weather, the meet was pushed up by three hours, meaning I was warming up and competing in the heat in a hijab.

“The sun and humidity was actually draining. But I used whatever energy was left to make it through to the next round.

“Honestly, the deeper I get into my season, the more I realise time is important. But if you execute and run how you practise, the place, like first, second or third and the time will come easily.”

Bobb is preparing for the quarter-finals scheduled for today, with her heart set on advancing to the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, from June 11 to 14.

Having the seventh-best time of 24 athletes who qualified, the Bermudian appears to be on track to make it to the nationals.

The top three from the three heats plus the three fastest losers will reach the finals, with Bobb in the first race at 7.50pm Bermuda time.

“One thing will be on my mind when I take to the track on Saturday,” she said. “Simply punch my ticket to Oregon.”

“I will be in a better spot nutritionally on Saturday and I’ll fight like crazy to secure my spot. I’m aiming to get a top-three in my pool and wait to see if I’m a time qualifier.”

Two weeks ago, the 22-year-old set a Bermuda record of 51.11 when winning the 400 at the Atlantic Conference Championships.

• UPDATE: this story has been amended to include Caitlyn Bobb’s quarter-final start time today