Academy of Art University Athletics

Michane Ricketts impressed in his 2017-18 debut, soaring past not only the NCAA Nationals automatic qualifying standard, but an Academy of Art program record in the indoor long jump at the Mines Alumni Classic & Multi.

Ricketts' final three jumps were each progressively further than the last until his auto-qualifier 25-3.25 (7.70m) on his last attempt. The mark, which is now the third-farthest distance in the country across every division of the NCAA, surpasses multi-time All-American Johnny Carter's previous school record set at Indoor Nationals in 2013. It was also the third-farthest distance jumped by any NCAA DII individual in the indoor version of the event since the start of last year.

"Coming into the competition, I felt good but the support of my coaches and teammates is what really gave me the energy to do what I did," said Ricketts. "Now it's a matter of fixing the small things for my event going for the best. I have the best coaches and team members at my back."