2025 Texas Relays Results (Day 1)
2025 Bobcat Invitational Results (Day 1)

Academy of Art track & field saw two Urban Knights move up as NCAA Division II Outdoor Nationals provisional qualifiers at the Texas Relays and Texas State's Bobcat Invitational on Thursday.

AUSTIN, Tex. – Mike A. Myers Stadium was the site as ART U went toe-to-toe with NCAA DI competitors and the trio of Robin Black (400m hurdles), Grace Southern (1500m), and Lina Hanich (800m) all emerged with times among the nation's leaders.

Nearly passing Texas' Chris Brinkley down the stretch, Black finished second in his 400mH heat with the third-fastest time in NCAA DII this season at 51.66. The Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media major claimed the ninth and final qualifying spot, besting 31 others to advance through the event's first round.

In the women's 1500m, only two others (including Hillsdale's Evyn Humphrey) could be found ahead of Southern who posted her first Outdoor Nationals provisional mark of the year, going 4:30.02 across the finish line. The native of Middletown, Calif. was third of 12 in the group, elevating to 16th in the country thus far.

Hanich continued her impressive run, clocking a 2:05.78 time that was just 0.55 seconds off the program record she delivered at the Hornet Invitational last week. The Advertising major placed fifth of 23, just back of Oklahoma's Abby Jepchirchir.

SAN MARCOS, Tex. – Visiting Texas State Track & Field Complex for the first time in program history, Academy of Art's start to the Bobcat Invitational was highlighted by strong efforts from Maika Cuenca-Andreo in the heptathlon and Ethan Forbes in the 800m.

Cuenca-Andreo put herself second out of 10 through the first four events of the heptathlon, amassing 2828 points thanks three top-three marks. Starting the day with a personal record 14.60 good for third in the 100m hurdles, the Fine Art major then went 4-10.5 (1.49m) in the high jump and threw a 31-8 (9.65m) for third in the shot put. Cuenca-Andreo finished as the field leader with a 25.79 in the 200m with the long jump, javelin throw, and 800m remaining on Friday.

More than a full-second improvement was turned in by Forbes in the 800m as he ran a season-best 1:51.43. He placed fifth of 59, ending just a half-second from the Outdoor Nationals provisional threshold.

The Urban Knights will resume both the Texas Relays and Bobcat Invitational tomorrow.