DES MOINES, Iowa -- Queen Harrison, Virginia Tech's strongest candidate for an NCAA title, suffered a pulled hamstring Wednesday on the opening day of the NCAA outdoor track and field championships.

The three-time All-American and former Hermitage High School standout suffered the injury while running a leg of the 400-meter relay.

She had to withdraw from her first-round heat in the 400-meter hurdles Wednesday night. She was the top seed in that event.

Because of her withdrawal, under meet rules she won't be able to compete the rest of the meet. She was supposed to compete in the prelims of the 100-meter hurdles and the 1,600-meter relay. She was the second seed in the 100-meter hurdles, and Tech is seeded fourth in the 1,600-meter relay.

Virginia Tech coach Dave Cianelli said that even if meet rules had allowed her to compete, her injury would not have enabled her to.

Harrison has qualified in both hurdles events for the U.S. Olympic Trials, which begin June 27.

Harrison's injury hurts Tech's chances of a high finish in the team standings.

Tech did not advance to the final of the women's 400-meter relay with its time of 45.01 seconds.

Two other Hokies did compete in the 400 hurdles. Sherlenia Green advanced to the semifinal with a time of 59.01 seconds, but Asia Washington did not (59.09).

Tasmin Fanning advanced to the final of the women's 5,000 meters (16:47.66). Brittany Pryor and Kristen Callan advanced to the finals in the women's hammer throw with heaves of 203 feet and 200-9, respectively.

Matej Muza advanced to the finals of the men's hammer throw (212-6). Erin Mahony and Kelly Phillips advanced to the women's pole vault finals; each had a vault of 13-5¼. Yavgeniy Olhovsky advanced to the men's pole vault finals (17-2¾).

Elsewhere:

VIRGINIA: Yemi Ayeni advanced to the finals of the men's discus with a throw of 183-01, and Billie-Joe Grant advanced in the women's discus, throwing 167-4.

Stephanie Garcia did not advance to the finals in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:27.14).

RADFORD: Kyle Morse advanced to the finals of the men's hammer throw with a throw of 211-4.

VMI: Felix Kitur advanced to the semifinals of the 800 meters with a time of 1:50.52.

HAMPTON: Terry Thorton (Petersburg) advanced to the semifinal of the men's 400-meter hurdles after finishing sixth in the preliminaries with a time of 50.17.