2016 Sacramento State Open Results
Competing in its penultimate weekend before the NCAA Championships, Academy of Art track & field split its teams across two meets on Saturday. Individuals from the men's squad were in action at the Oxy Invitational hosted by Occidental College in Southern California while the women and
Craig Mattox contested the Sacramento State Open up north.
LOS ANGELES – At Oxy, the best was saved for last as
Valentin Pepiot completed the 5000m in a new ART U record time of 13:57.37 to lead all 105 runners in the event. The first NCAA Division II Nationals automatic qualifying time by any Urban Knight this outdoor season, Pepiot's performance rose him to sixth in the country among times entering the weekend.
Shaquille Howard put his talents on display in the 400m, crossing the finish line in eighth of 35 competitors with a season-best 47.59. It was the fastest time run by any Urban Knight in the event this season, a Nationals provisional qualifier, and put him among the nation's top 30 against current times.
Roman Skovronski continued to drive down the program record in the 400m hurdles, going 52.14 for sixth place of 29. This marked his third time improving ART U's top mark and vaults him up to eighth in the country heading into this weekend's action.
In the 110m hurdles,
Marlon Britton delivered a season-best of 14.75. The time knocked off 0.08 from his previous best, but remained 0.20 shy of the provisional standard.
Mobolade Ajomale 10.45 for sixth of 51. Ajomale would also join Skovronski, Howard, and
Alexander McNally in the men's 4x400m relay, but the quartet did not improve upon its season-best set at the Mt. SAC Relays.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A strong effort came from
Jasmine Grace in the women's 200m dash, highlighting the Sacramento State Open for the Urban Knights. Grace posted a 25.43 for a second-place finish overall.
Mattox, the lone ART U male competing at the Sac State Open, finished first of seven in the long jump with a final distance of 23-2 (7.06m).
Academy of Art gets set for its final opportunity to qualify for NCAA Outdoor Nationals at the West Coast Last Chance Meet hosted by University of San Francisco at SF State's Cox Stadium on May 14.
