2013 Grand Valley State Big Meet with Multi's Results (Day One)

2013 University of New Mexico Don Kirby Invitational Results (Day One)

Handling their business at two separate meets on Friday, the Academy of Art University Track & Field team offered more impressive performances for this first year of full NCAA membership. The Urban Knights were simultaneously competing at the Grand Valley State Big Meet with Multi's in Allendale, MI as well as the University of New Mexico Don Kirby Invitational in Albuquerque, NM.

Allendale, MI – Though a huge snowstorm greeted ART U upon its arrival, the Knights spent Friday burning up the track the GVSU Big Meet with Multi's. Red-shirt freshman Shaquille Howard was among the highlights as he exploded to a time in the 400m dash to not only set a school record and a meet record, but also a facility record for the LAX Field/Track Complex which hosts four to five meets annually.

Howard posted a 47.35 mark in the 400m, taking 1st place out of 35 qualified sprinters after a strong final turn with about 60m to go. It was a rare sight at the facility which had previously featured a record of 47.37 by Sammy Biggs of Southern Illinois. Howard's mark, a provisional qualifier for the NCAA Indoor Championships as well as the USA Indoor Championships, is currently ranked 3rd overall in NCAA Division II.

"I felt great setting the first record of my career," Howard said. "It was a great experience. I was really focused before. I did my ritual like praying and taking a ice bath the night before. For the final push, I just listened to my coach. He always tells me to finish strong and that's what I did. If everything continues going well like this, I can win Nationals."

"Shaq is in incredible shape and is starting to figure out how to run these races," head coach Charles Ryan said. "He is a monster when he is competition mode and I only expect him to continue to drop his times. NCAAs are 30 days away and I fully expect him to be in the mix for the title."

On the men's distance side, freshman Clemens Kammer pushed himself to a 4:12.81 time in the 1 mile, taking 16th out of 45 runners. His time, which was a provisional qualifier for the NCAA Indoor Championships, also serves as a new ART U record by more than five full seconds. Sophomore Jack Nevins added a 15:47.19 mark in the 5000m, making him the first Academy of Art athlete to compete in the event for the indoor season, while newcomers Jens Alban and Nicolas Rifflard delivered times of 8:40.17 (3000m) and 4:15.83 (1 mile) respectively.

“I was really happy to see Clemens bounce back from a performance he wasn't happy with in his indoor opener,” Coach Olson said. “His run was really aggressive and really tough for a personal best and provisional mark at this distance. We knew he had more than what he did in his first race and it's pretty rare to hear of someone chopping 13 seconds off of the mile.”

The women's distance group was led by cross country All-American Jenny Bergren who competed in her second 1 mile event of the season and did not disappoint. The Orinda, CA native would set a new with a time of 4:56.65 and capture one of the NCAA Indoor Championships provisional qualifying marks. The time has her at #13 in the country currently.

“For Jenny, the field was very talented and they went out aggressively,” Coach Olson said. “I think it caught her a little off-guard and she had a small moment of panic, but she gathered herself mid-race and rallied, which is really hard to do. She passed a whole bunch of people in the last 600m and ended up with a personal best and qualifier.”

Freshman Arianna Michaels saw her first action of the indoor season Friday and turned in a 10:24.98 in the 3000m. Up against 30 other women from a variety of top DII track & field programs, Michaels held her own, staying amongst a pack with the pace that was essentially her mile personal record pace for a 3000m according to Coach Olson. The mark was a school record and was reportedly 30 seconds better than any high school equivalent Michaels had run at Valencia High School.

“I don't think Arianna realized that her race today represented a big step for her,” Coach Olson said. “She was in maybe a little bit over her head in terms of the field, but she hung tough and ended up with a school record. It's a hard way to run a race to be in over your head and hang with a pack running faster than you'd like to. Excited to see what she can do in a race that plays a little bit more to her current strengths.

Dominique Berry was also in action Friday, posting a 58.29 and finishing in the middle of the pack in the 400m dash.

Tomorrow, the sprinters and distance team will unite for a special distance medley relay event back at the GVSU's LAX Field/Track Complex. There will be a lone race on the men's and women's side featuring combinations of Urban Knights.


Albuquerque, NM -- A few of the ART U heavy hitters made some major statements Friday at the University of New Mexico Don Kirby Invitational. Just when the country perhaps thought he had reached his limit in the long jump, red-shirt freshman Johnny Carter sent shockwaves through the track world. Senior Vashti Thomas posted a unbelievable time in the 60m hurdles that showed why she is truly elite. Additionally, the women's 4x400m relay set a new school record to earn an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Carter simply put on a long jump show for the ages on Friday. With Division I jumpers all around him, Carter capped off his six attempts with a 24-10 (7.57m) which was a full three inches further than the previous two distances he had achieved. Coming into this meet at #2 in all of DII in the event, the freshman unquestionably returns to his place atop the national list.

"There was a higher level of seriousness and the potential on the field at this meet," Carter said. "It means a lot to me to bring this kind of national attention to this program! I'm truly blessed. God has allowed me to compete at my potential and I plan to keep representing the Academy of Art in the best way possible on and off the track!"

Though she had already qualified for Nationals in the 60mH event, Thomas was not going to simply rest on her laurels. The San Jose, CA native turned in a time of 8.15 which had been simply unheard of to this point in the year. The top DII mark coming into the meet was 8.20 and Thomas' own lifetime best had been 8.19. The new mark, currently #3 in all divisions, was significantly stronger than Kori Carter of Stanford on Friday and a host of other Division I opponents who participated in the race.

"Johnny and Vashti were their usual incredible selves," Coach Ryan said. "They continue to build on their best marks and are ready to lead the charge into the championships."

Thomas also joined Keanna Moody, Chantel King, and Dinesha Bean in a special women's 4x400m. At 3:43.16, the Urban Knights broke through to capture the AQ and simultaneously set a school record by more than three full seconds. They placed 6th in the race, edging San Diego State, Stanford, and other elite DI programs.

"The ladies could have run away from the moment when we had to leave Briana Stewart on the sidelines, but they rose to the occasion," Coach Ryan said. "It was the toughest I've ever seen them run and I could not be more proud of them. They battled from start to finish. It was awesome!"

Academy of Art will be back in action tomorrow at the Don Kirby Invitational inside UNM's Indoor Track Convention Center.