2018 Pacific West Conference Championship Results (Day 1)

FRESNO, Calif. – An eventful first day of the Pacific West Conference Championships saw Academy of Art University Track & Field finish with two individual champion, Gatien Airiau (3000m Steeplechase) and Joshua Thorson (10,000m), numerous scoring efforts, and Urban Knight individual qualifications in 13 event prelims to tomorrow's respective finals out at the Fresno Pacific Track.

"It was a good first day with a majority making their finals tomorrow and those with finals today represented ART U very well," said director of track & field/cross country Torrey Olson. "We're looking forward to an opportunity for our student-athletes to rise to the occasion tomorrow."

Just under a month from his program record in the 3000m Steeplechase, Airiau proved to be the fastest man in the event on Friday. He delivered a 9:18.03 to claim the title for the second straight season, besting second-place California Baptist's Pierre-Louis Airiau's mark broke the meet record by six-tenths of a second five years after the record was set, which was the last time the event was held at Fresno Pacific.Detourbe by more than 11 seconds. 

In the 10,000m, Thorson placed first of a 16-runner field, with a time of 31:50.83 that was just a fraction of a second off his personal record. Also scoring points for Academy of Art in the event was Logan Briner who took sixth.

ART U had a pair of third-place finishes in both the men's and women's long jump with Arrun Palacio posting a 21-9.5 (6.64m) and Marion Presigny delivering a 19-1.25 (5.82m). Additionally, points were scored by Rian Young-Werner (fourth) and Hannah Hensley (sixth) on the women's side.

The women's team also added points in the javelin via Folke Woch's sixth-place finish and an eight-place result from Madeline Dignadice in the 3000m Steeplechase.

Through four events of the Heptathlon, Hensley finds herself at the top of the field. Her 3008 points came by way of victories in the 100m hurdles (where she offered a season-best 14.85), the high jump, and the 200m. Woch, who completed day one third overall, won the shot put with a 37-10 (11.53m).

"Everyone competed hard today and we are looking forward to them showing up tomorrow and giving the same effort," said head coach Kevin LaSure.

Beginning a series of prelims, the women's 1500m saw both Beatriz Martinez Mercado (fourth) and Alyssa Winter (11th) qualify through to Saturday's final while the men's 1500m prelim was won by Rabah Houali who will be joined in the final by Freddie Hessian (fourth), Victor Moreau (fifth), and Marvin Thomas (seventh).

Three hurdles events prelims featured qualifications for three Urban Knights led by Marlon Britton's top placement in the 110mH with a 14.48 just 0.02 shy of his lifetime-best. In the women's 100mH, Presigny's season-best 13.93 earned her first in the event and a NCAA Nationals provisional qualification as well, moving her into the country's top 20. Hensley took fifth as well and Presigny would return later to capture a qualifying fourth in the 400mH.

Out of the men's 400m, Mobolade Ajomale produced a season-best 47.76 for the top qualification as well as a Nationals provisional mark. Three of his teammates, Nicolas Morales Williams (seventh), Michael Houston (eighth), and Moses Crawford (ninth), will run alongside him in Saturday's final. In the women's 400m, Latavia Hawkins Hawkins reached the finals after placing fourth in the prelims.

Ajomale was also in action in the 100m where he reached the final and will look to defend his title for the second consecutive season after a 10.62 had him first overall. Britton took second in the prelims after crossing the line with a lifetime-best 10.87. Young-Werner was second out of the 100m prelims following her own lifetime-best 12.20.

The top time in the men's 800m prelims (1:54.64) belonged to Houali who will contest the tomorrow's final along with Joshua Browne (fifth) and Thomas (seventh). Two women will be in the 800m as well after Martinez Mercado placed third and Ashley Brown (sixth).

In his third race of the day, Ajomale stayed perfect with another top finish in the 200m prelims, going 21.45 across the finish line. Palacio came through in second with a wind-assisted 21.94. The women's final will include Young-Werner who claimed fourth in the prelims with a 24.85.

The Urban Knights will return to the FPU Track for the second and final day of the PacWest Championships with a full slate of event finals. Additionally, ART U will have a total of three individuals in Cal's Brutus Hamilton Challenge tomorrow as well.