2016 PacWest Conference Track & Field Awards

IRVINE, Calif. – After completing their quest to gold at NCAA Outdoor Nationals in late May, a total of three Academy of Art University track & field Urban Knights were recognized in a Wednesday announcement of the 2016 Pacific West Conference Track & Field Awards. Valentin Pepiot shared the honor of PacWest Track Athlete of the Year with fellow Frenchman Valentin Robert of California Baptist while Mobolade Ajomale and Rian Young-Werner were each selected as PacWest Freshman of the Year for their respective genders.

"These three athletes we relied on all outdoor season and we asked a lot of them at the conference meet," said director of track & field/cross country Torrey Olson. "I am glad the PacWest coaches saw fit to recognize their efforts - all three are well deserved. The PacWest itself has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years and we are proud to be a part of it."

This season, the PacWest coaches or designated representatives from each school selected a total of seven student-athletes and two coaches for PacWest postseason accolades. The squad consisted of a Track Athlete of the Year, Field Athlete of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Coach of the Year.

On the literal heels of becoming the first Academy of Art men's cross country runner to the title of All-American, Pepiot closed his collegiate career with an outdoor track & field season for the ages. En route to NCAA Nationals, the Frenchman set four program records (800m, 1500m, 1 mile, 5000m) including three in the final month of the season. A two-time PacWest Track Athlete of the Week, Pepiot scored 28 points at the 2016 PacWest Championships, winning titles in 1500m and 5000m to help the team finish second overall.

All-Region in the 1500m and 5000m (top six in the country in both) approaching Outdoor Nationals, Pepiot pulled off an incredible feat in his final two races as an Urban Knight. He would rise to the challenge of racing the country's elite at Nationals, finishing third in the 1500m then second in the 5000m hours later to capture his first two All-American trophies.

Coming off a summer in which he competed for Canada at the World University Games, Ajomale did not disappoint in his debut season at the collegiate level. The redshirt freshman was a national champion in the indoor 100m, West Region Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, and a three-time All-American before stepping foot into the outdoor campaign. Ajomale would go on to add three more program records (100m, 200m, 4x100m), earn two PacWest Track Athlete of the Week honors, and be named PacWest Championship Male Track Athlete of the Meet after scoring 32.5 points at the 2016 PacWest Championships with titles in 100m, 200m, 400m, and 4x100m en route to team's second place finish.

By the regular season's send, the native of Richmond Hill, Canada was top 10 in the country in the 100m and 200m (All-Region in both as well as 400m, 4x100m, and 4x400m) and would drop two more ART U records with top-three finishes in the 100m and 200m at NCAA Nationals. Ajomale completed his first year as a five-time All-American.

After sitting the 2014-15 season due to injury, Young-Werner worked her way back to display her impressive talents in 2015-16. The redshirt freshman would claim triple jump All-Region honors during the indoor season, then repeated in outdoor with a personal record of 41-0.25 (12.50m) in Azusa to become the PacWest Triple Jump Champion.

Although she would end up finishing one spot out of the finals at 10th overall at Outdoor Nationals, Young-Werner completed the regular season ranked fourth in NCAA DII in triple jump (the only freshman in the top 10) and third in program history.

"It is an enormous honor to have three of our student-athletes recognized by the PacWest Conference for their amazing efforts this season," said head coach Kevin LaSure. "Rian Young-Werner, Valentin Pepiot, and Mobolade Ajomale all were huge for us throughout the season and they each scored big points for us in multiple events during the PacWest Championships. It was great to see the three of them finish off the season with several All-Conference accolades and each had All-American performances during the Outdoor NCAA Championships. I am extremely proud of all that they were able to accomplish this year."

These are the first PacWest track & field awards in the careers of Pepiot, Ajomale, and Young-Werner.