2015 Ed Jacoby Invitational & Multis Results

NAMPA, Idaho – Academy of Art University Track & Field debuted in a strong way Saturday with multiple NCAA Division II Nationals provisional qualifiers, personal records on both sides, and a new program record in the men's 60m hurdles at Boise State's Ed Jacoby Invitational & Multis. Keanna Moody (400m), Jordan Edwards (400m), and Marlon Britton (60mH) were each the top finishers in their respective events to highlight the season-opening meet inside Jacksons Indoor.

"Today was a true mixed bag of extremes," said head coach Charles Ryan. "We had some great performances, but we also blew a lot of opportunities. We will take this weekend as an overall positive, work out the kinks, and move forward. Indoor season is a sprint, and you don't have a lot of time to let opportunities fall through the cracks."

Britton established a new top 60mH mark for the Urban Knights early on in the day, going 8.13 to lead a collection of 16 hurdlers. His time would best his own previous program record (8.46) by a significant margin and he, along with third-place Quinlan Wright (8.47), qualified through to the event finals. There, Britton would repeat his first place finish with an 8.19 mark and becomes a provisional qualifier for NCAA Nationals. Britton also turned in a new personal record in the 60m dash, going 6.95 to reach the finals where he finished fourth with a time of 6.99.

"I'm extremely proud of Marlon," said Ryan. "He listens, he always gives good effort, and now he is starting to see the results. If he continues to work hard on his technique, he will be a threat in the hurdles at the NCAA Championships. He is a totally different young man from the freshman he was last year."

Edwards was solid in all three of his events and came out with the top spot in a 33-man 400m dash. He posted a 48.52, a NCAA provisional qualifying time, and was also a fourth-place finisher in the 60m dash where he went 6.91 to only barely miss the provisional standard. In the day's finale, he joined Asa Guevara, Roman Skovronski, and Wright in the 4x400m relay who all combined to go 3:20.54 for the fourth-lowest mark in program history.

In the women's 400m, Moody claimed first place overall out of a 29-sprinter field, going 55.81 for a NCAA provisional qualifier to start her season. Mistic Scott was also placed in the top six with the second-lowest time of her career at 57.98. Moody impressed in the 60m dash as well, placing seventh of 48 with a new personal record of 7.79. She rises to fourth on the program's all-time list with that mark.

"Keke has spent a lot of time working to correct her sprint mechanics and her flat foot speed," said Ryan. "Today you started to see the results of that. A big drop in the 60m and, as she continues to get faster, her 400m races will get a lot easier for her."

Amanda Odesjo added a PR of her own in the 60m event, turning in the first 8.00 of her career. A busy woman on Saturday, Odesjo also posted a new lifetime best in the long jump, flying to a 5.47m mark (17-11.5) on the last of six attempts.

"Amanda didn't do anything that will show up on the NCAA lists today, but she had a great day!" said Ryan. "We have given her a lot of new challenges this year and she is responding very well."

In the women's 200m, newcomer Atiya Harvey ran well and placed fifth out of 47 with a time of 25.23 which vaults her up to fourth on the program's all-time list. She would later be in action for the 4x400m relay which also featured Scott, Schae Graham, and Moody. The foursome went 3:48.93 to provisionally qualify for the postseason as well.

"It was a nice opener; two rookies and two vets came together and delivered a quality performance," said Ryan. "It was one of the most exciting races of the day."

ART U Track & Field alum Vashti Thomas was also in action Saturday, going 7.69 in the 60m and 24.61 to win the 200m.

Next weekend, Academy of Art will travel to Birmingham for the UAB Vulcan Invitational (Jan. 23) and UAB Green and Golf Invitational (Jan. 24) set to take place inside the Birmingham Crossplex, the site of the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships.