2017 UW Indoor Open Results
SEATTLE – A busy weekend inside the Dempsey Indoor came to an end Sunday, but not before the Urban Knights delivered three new program records, eight top-five marks in Academy of Art history, and numerous nationally-significant times in the University of Washington Indoor Open.
"We asked our student-athletes to do a lot this weekend," said head coach
Kevin LaSure. "I wanted to put them in some difficult situations and see how well they handled adversity. For the most part, they passed the test and met the challenge head on, finding a way to perform well after a long weekend of competing in five to six events over the course of three days. It was definitely a great step forward for the program as we prepare for the NCAA Championships a month from now. I am extremely proud of our women's team as they are starting to show everyone else across the country how talented I have always said they were."
In
Mobolade Ajomale's first 400m of the season, he impressively hit the NCAA Division II Nationals auto-qualifying standard with a 47.31. First of 47 sprinters in the event, the Canadian Olympian immediately rose to fourth in the country. Additionally, Ajomale remained untouchable in the 60m, placing first among the 63-competitor field with a 6.81.
Fresh off her contribution to a 13-second drop to the
program record in the women's Distance Medley Relay,
Swann Phelippeau capped off a special weekend running in front of her parents with another program record in the 3000m. She would cut over 35 seconds off the previous ART U-best and move into DII's top 15 with the provisional qualifying mark. In the same event,
Giulia McIsaac posted a 10-second lifetime best, going 10:18.53 for the second-fastest time in Academy of Art history behind Phelippeau.
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Also part of the record DMR with Phelippeau,
Beatriz Martinez Mercado enjoyed individual success with the best 800m in Urban Knights history. She crossed the finish line at 2:12.41 for a provisional top-25 time in the country.
Ashley Brown, less than 24 hours removed from her 800m lifetime-best, put forth another personal record of 2:16.81 literally alongside her teammate in the same heat.
The men's 800m also featured an ART U-record as
Rabah Houali dropped down to 1:53.00. He would make a small jump in the national rankings, approaching the country's top 30.
It was a season-best for
Schae Graham who joined a small contingent of runners with times under 56.10 in the 400m this year. She offered a 56.02 to place first of 51 in the day's event and now finds herself close to the top 10 in Division II with the provisional time.
Victor Moreau was busy man on Sunday, competing in both the mile and 3000m and putting forth career-bests in each event. After a strong 4:13.30 made him fifth all-time in Academy of Art history, Moreau also put himself among the program's top-five best in the 3000m as well with an 8:28.64.
Freddie Hessian turned in his own lifetime best with an 8:30.90, finishing just over two seconds behind his teammate.
ART U's jump squad was in prime form on the men's side with
Michane Ricketts taking another long jump title. He soared to 23-7.5 (7.20m) for first of 49. In the triple jump,
Arrun Palacio offered his best mark of the year, going 46-7.25 (14.20m) and cracking the program's top all-time list.
The women's 200m featured a season-best 25.35 from
Jasmine Grace while the 60m hurdles saw
Marion Presigny place second out of 51 with a time of 8.83.
"I am proud of the way both the men and women competed and the way the upperclassmen set the tone, creating a competitive atmosphere for the weekend," said LaSure.
Just one more indoor meet remains on the Urban Knights' regular season schedule: The Boston University Last Chance Meet. It will take place Sunday, Feb. 25 inside the Terriers' Track & Tennis Center.
