Davis, CA --- Propelled by distance runner Daveson Marindich's 3000m performance, the Academy of Art University's track & field program left the UC Davis Aggie Open with some high and low points. “We have had better days as an overall group,” said Head Coach Charles Ryan. “We were flat all day and we lacked focus, which cost us in the end.”

The ART U track and field team competed in just a hand full of events during the Aggie Open held at Woody Wilson Track in Davis, CA on Saturday afternoon.

Marindich placed fourth in the 33 runner field during the 3000m run. The Kenya native set a personal best with a time of 8:21.75. “Daveson knocked 13 seconds of his previous best time. His run in the 3000m put him on track to set a personal best in the 5000m run," remarked Ryan.

The men's 4x100 relay team was another high point of the day. “Our 4x100 relay team had a good overall performance today,' said Ryan. “Although, I know they can run better. They had some technical errors today that cost them time, but I'm excited to see them perform well as the season progresses.”

Remigius Roskosch, Erik Piedad, Pearson Crichlow, and Aric Armon made up the quartet that finished fifth, in a time of 42.70.

ART U's 4x400 relay team's took sixth and seventh place respectfully. Armon, Alexander Craig, Piedad, and Crichlow's time of 3:23.24 earned them a fifth place finish in their heat, and a sixth place finish overall. While Joey Villasenor, Hamza Bouchafra, Emil Tolliver, and Remigius Roskosch finished second in their preliminary heat and seventh overall, 3:27.15.

In the men's 400m run Alexander Craig and Aric Armon finished sixth and seventh. Craig clocked in with a time of 50.23, while teammate, Armon, finished right behind him in 50.38.

Chantel King earned a top 20 finish in both the 200m, and the 400m. Kendall Long and Heather Castro both competed in the 400m run as well, but it was King who finished on top for the Urban Knight women in the event.

The Urban Knights compete next in the Chabot Home Meet on March 18th.