2016 University of Washington Invitational (Final)SEATTLE – ART U track & field showed its need for speed Saturday in an eventful day at University of Washington's Dempsey Indoor for the UW Invitational.
Mobolade Ajomale was among the highlights yet again, delivering a NCAA Championship automatic qualifying mark in the 60m finals that now leads Division II and was tied for 12th in DII history. Additionally, the men's and women's 4x400m relays both posted NCAA DII provisional times along with other individuals.
"There was considerable progress this weekend," said director of track & field/cross country
Torrey Olson. "The men's 4x4 was a highlight for me, seeing all four go out and get a great effort out of themselves and execute some of what I know coach LaSure has been working on with them. I'm leaving Seattle confident that even more pieces will be in place when we are back here in two weeks."
Not long after he crossed the 60m prelims finish line just 0.01 second shy of the automatic qualifier (6.75 – first of 21), Ajomale simply left nothing to question in the finals. He lit up the track for a 6.65 time that was not only an ART U program record and the fastest in NCAA Division II, but it was also 11th in all divisions this year.
Ajomale's talents were also on display in the men's 4x400m relay which placed first of the nine teams. He combined with
Roman Skovronski,
Jordan Edwards, and
Alexander McNally for a 3:13.65 mark that was second in program history and fourth in NCAA DII, earning the quartet a provisional qualifier.
Edwards had his own individual success in the 400m, placing third of 39 sprinters with a time of 48.00. He moves into the country's top 10 with the provisional mark.
The men's jumps had their share of top performances with
Johnny Carter flying to his own NCAA provisional in the long jump with a distance of 23-9.5 (7.25m) good for fourth of the 26 jumpers in attendance.
Craig Mattox was seventh in the event at 23-1.25 (7.04m).
Johnnie Young offered a season-best 45-5 (13.84m) in the triple jump.
The women also came through with a NCAA provisional time in the 4x400m relay as
Mistic Scott,
Keanna Moody,
Schae Graham, and
Kiara Clark collectively posted a 3:51.64.
Moody stood out in the 400m as well, hustling to a 55.19 mark that has her now fifth in NCAA DII as a provisional qualifier for Indoor Nationals. The time was 0.07 off her personal record set last year in Albuquerque, N.M.
The Urban Knights will return to University of Washington's Dempsey for three days of competition featuring the Husky Classic (Feb. 12-13) and UW Open (Feb. 14).
