It’s onto the semifinals for a pair of athletes with local ties at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials.

Former Williston Northampton standout Gabby Thomas, and former UMass star Heather MacLean both advanced through the opening rounds of their respective events at the Trials in Eugene, Ore. on Thursday night.

Thomas and the entire 200 meter field automatically advanced into the semifinals thanks to some scratches that took place prior to Thursday’s first round. But times still mattered, setting up lane assignments for Friday’s semifinals (10:06 p.m.). The final is Saturday night.

Running in the fourth of four opening-round heats, Thomas, 27, dominated her heat with a winning time of 22.11 seconds. She trailed Twanisha Terry briefly off the blocks before turning it on off the turn and catapulting into victory.

The New Balance athlete and Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist was featured on the broadcast prior to her race for her recent modeling work, as well has her academic and professional endeavors.

Her time was the second-fastest of the opening round, behind only Sha'Carri Richardson (21.99).

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Thomas told NBC’s Lewis Johnson afterward. “I remember coming here three years ago and being so surprised to make the [Olympic] team so to be here in kind of a different position is really exciting.”

Johnson asked Thomas about her decision to not run the 100 meters at the Trials, and instead focus on the 200.

“I’m really focused on 200-meter gold this year,” she said. “I’m kind of laser focused, tunnel vision on [200].”

MacLean got her Olympic Trials underway in dominant fashion.

MacLean, 28, seized control of her heat during Thursday’s first round of the women’s 1,5000 meters, taking the lead as the runners entered their final lap. From there, she pulled away, posting a 61.2-second final lap to cruise into a heat victory with a time of 4 minutes, 7.31 seconds.

MacLean, who was an Olympian in Tokyo three years ago in the event, advanced to Friday night’s semifinal round which begins at 8:53 p.m. The 1,500 finals are Sunday at 8:09 p.m. The top five finishers from each of the two semifinals will automatically advance to the final, as well as the next two fastest overall.

MacLean’s time was the eighth-fastest overall between the three opening-round heats. Ellie St. Pierre ran the fastest, crossing first in the third and final heat with a time of 4:06.41.

Event coverage will air on NBC, while also streaming on Peacock.