2012 Cherry & Silver Invitational Day One Results

Albuquerque, NM -- In its first indoor track meet of the new year, the Academy of Art University track & field team continued to demonstrate its ability to contend with the country's elite inside the Indoor Track Convention Center. On Day One (Jan. 20) of the University of New Mexico's 2012 Cherry & Silver Invitational, the Urban Knights turned in several highlights including new school records by junior Vashti Thomas in the 200m and long jump as well as a new personal best for freshman Jaylon Hicks in the 200m which serves as the second best time in ART U history.

Leading the way on the women's side, Thomas posted a 20-1 mark in the long jump (4th overall) as part of the first day's field events before completing the 200m dash with a time of 24.29. Her performance in the 200m was more than a full second better than previous record holder Kristen Lee's time from last season. Thomas finished 6th in a competition that featured 79 other athletes primarily from NCAA Division I institutions such as BYU, Utah State, and host University of New Mexico.

Senior Jazmin White also came away with an impressive outing in the 200m, finishing the event in a time of 25.51 which moves her into second on the all-time record list. Juniors Dominique Berry, Ashley Austin, sophomore Chantel King, and new addition to the track & field roster Jesseka Raymond all saw action in the event as well.

In the 600m, senior Kristen Sanzari secured another new program record by way of a 1:41.61 performance (14th overall) that bested the previous ART U mark by more than a full seven seconds.

For the men, freshman Jaylon Hicks sprinted his way to a new personal best of 22.43 in the 200m. His time was five hundredths of a second less than his debut race in the Boise State Jacksons Open & Multi's on Dec. 3, 2011. He captured 22nd place in a field of 44 elite athletes.

Also for the men, sophomore Reneilwe Aphane came in 9th in the long jump event with a distance of 22-8.5 which is now fourth-best in Urban Knight program history.

Another ART U track & field squad also competed in the Run for the Dream at Fresno State's Save Mart Center on Jan. 20 and results will be forthcoming. Day two of the University of New Mexico Cherry & Silver Invitational takes place Saturday, Jan. 21.