2015 University of Alabama at Birmingham Vulcan Invitational ResultsBIRMINGHAM, Ala. – It was an exciting return for Academy of Art University Track & Field to the Birmingham Crossplex for the UAB Vulcan Invitational. On the women's side,
Atiya Harvey was a top performer, delivering NCAA provisional qualifying times in the 60m and 200m. At the site of his event debut in an Urban Knights uniform,
Jordan Edwards lit up the track Friday with a new ART U program record in the 200m.
"Atiya was the clear star today as we expected," said head coach
Charles Ryan. "She delivered big performances in both the 60m and 200m. She handled herself very well and both of her provisional marks will continue to drop. She is very excited as are we to have her this year. She is a big part of all the goals we have this season."
Harvey showed her talents in both the 60m and 200m on Friday. She placed second out of 33 runners in the 200m with a time of 24.69. It put her immediately into the country's top eight in the event. A strong performance in the 60m finals came in the form of a 7.58 mark good for third after a 7.60 qualified her through against 38 others in the prelims.
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Keanna Moody downed her time in the 400m with a 55.28 which made her second of 35 competing in the event. Already the owner of a NCAA provisional time, she moves up to third in nation with this mark. In the same 200m race as Harvey, Moody offered a third-place finish (25.00) as well.
"Keke continues to impress and evolve as a 400m runner," said Ryan. "She is on the brink of a big breakthrough. In the 200m, she ran a very nice race for her first indoor 200m. Her time will continue to drop and we expect to see her climb the NCAA 200m list soon."
Both Moody and Harvey united with
Mistic Scott and
Omotoyosi Oniru for a 3:50.71 in the 4x400m to add another NCAA provisional time for ART U. The Knights finished second of 13 in the event.
"[Omotoyosi] has a really nice opener today," said Ryan. "Almost matched her [400m] outdoor best from last season in her first indoor meet. She also delivered a very good relay leg."
Edwards posted a pair of #1 finishes on the day, taking titles in the 200m and 400m. He went 21.54 for the 200m record, bettering his previous top mark by 0.04 and placing first out of 22 sprinters for a provisional qualifier. Edwards also improved on his time in the 400m, dropping down to a 48.34 for first out of 27 runners. He remains fourth in all of NCAA Division II in both events.
"Jordan ran extremely well in the 200m," said Ryan. "Powerful, smooth, and also aggressive. Now he just needs to bring that same aggression to his 400m race and he will see a big drop at that distance as well."
Though he did not better his time from the season opener last week,
Marlon Britton was still sharp in the 60m hurdles where he placed first in both the prelims and finals. He started with an 8.21 to top the 18-man field then went 8.16 in the finals.
"Marlon continues to gain confidence with every hurdle race," said Ryan. "As he compiles victories and continues to show consistency, he will set himself up for a monster performance. Consistency comes before breakthroughs."
Academy of Art returns to the Birmingham Crossplex tomorrow for the UAB Green and Gold Invitational, an entirely separate meet once again hosted by the Blazers.
