2014 University of Albany Great Dane Classic Results

New York, NY – Inside the world-famous New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory, members of the Academy of Art University Track & Field teams demonstrated their impressive talents throughout Friday for the University of Albany Great Dane Classic. Highlighting a full day of action were newcomers Jordan Edwards, Marlon Britton, and Amira Barnett each reaching the finals of their respective events, an inspired performance by Shaquille Howard in the 400m, and a season best by the women's 4x400m relay squad.

In the 200m, Edwards showed the sky's the limit as he achieved a new ART U program record with his 21.72 mark. Going up against 64 other competitors, Edwards finished fifth overall though he was third among collegiate sprinters, wedged in between George Mason's Adrian Vaughn and Buffalo's Ryan Billian. The time tops Pearson Crichlow's previous high of 21.80 which had held up since December of 2011.

Making a dynamic move down the backstretch to pass Rutgers' D'Andre Jordan, the leader of his section to that point, Howard wound up winning his section of the 400m with a 48.31. He dropped 0.20 off his previous season-best which came at UAB Blazer and it certainly remains a NCAA Division II provisional qualifier. Overall, Howard would finish the event in third place out of 51 competitors. Watch here!

In the 60m hurdles, Britton got himself into the top 18 with an 8.46 time that continued to drop the program record he set in his collegiate debut back in early December at the Early Grizzly Open.  He posted an 8.62 in the finals.

Also in action for the team events were Jack Nevins, Howard, Temarius Walker, and Nicolas Rifflard in the Distance Medley (10:33.37) while Edwards, Quinlan Wright, Howard, and Alexander McNally joined for the 4x400m relay (3:32.94).

On the women's side of the 4x400m relay, it was the quartet of Keanna Moody, Mistic Scott, Dierra Haven, and Dominique Berry hitting a new season best 3:53.89. They would collectively finish eighth of 29 foursomes while dropping more than a full second off their already NCAA Nationals provisional qualifying time.

The prelims of the 60m hurdles saw Barnett drop to a season-best 9.24 which enabled her to make the finals as the 18th place finisher in a field of 50. She would post a 9.36 in the finals for a 12th place result there.

Continuing to run strong in the 400m dash, Moody led a charge of four Urban Knights in the 48-person field. She delivered a 57.67 mark that put her 14th overall. Fellow partners from the 4x400m, Scott, Haven, and Berry, were also in the mix in the event.

In addition to the successes of the current Urban Knights, ART U Track & Field alum Vashti Thomas won the 60mH (8.17 finals, 8.36q) and 200m (23.96) outright. Thomas' 8.36 in the 60mH prelim broke Jesse Gaines's meet record of 8.40. Then, in the final, Thomas re-wrote her own record with a time of 8.17 and now ranks as the fourth fastest in the world this year, second best among Americans. Her 23.96 in the 200m was a meet record as well, giving her three on the day. Watch 200m here! As she pursues the professional track & field circuit, Thomas showed just how talented she is, collectively beating out 130 individuals in those events combined. Watch interview here!