2013 Mt. SAC Relays Results (Final)

2013 Beach Invitational

Walnut, CA – Day two of the 55th Annual Mt. SAC Relays was another glorious one for Academy of Art University Track & Field as the Urban Knights continued to add to their collection of athletes receiving automatic qualifiers to NCAA Division II Nationals. Inside Hilmer Lodge Stadium once again, seniors Vashti Thomas, Julian Purvis, and Briana Stewart all punched their tickets with stellar performances in the 100m hurdles, performances that land these three women #3, #22, and #30 on the IAAF World Rankings List.

Thomas was absolutely on fire in the 100mH on Saturday. The senior cleared her stretch of hurdles with a nearly superhuman efficiency, finishing 2nd among a group of seven elite hurdlers with a time of 12.56. Though wind-aided, the time still further demonstrated her uncanny athletic ability that continues to make her a major threat at Nationals. Thomas' margin as #1 in the event in NCAA DII was only furthered Saturday at Mt. SAC. Watch video of her feat here!

The senior also delivered a NCAA auto-qualifier in the 200m. Thomas went 23.33 to take 4th overall in a competition that included only the country's elite sprinters and no other collegiate athletes. The mark was a program record and topped her previous low of 23.77 which came at the Sacramento State Hornet Invitational earlier this year. Watch video of the 200m here!

Additionally in the 100mH Olympic Development Elite, seniors Julian Purvis and Briana Stewart each delivered their top times as Urban Knights. Purvis posted a 13.26 while Stewart went 13.26 to automatically qualify both for the NCAA National Championships in May. Watch video of the 4x400m here!

Stewart had another monster performance in Walnut this weekend that landed her #4 on the NCAA DII list for 400mH. Stewart broke out with a new lifetime best of 59.24, announcing herself has a major threat for the 400mH title at the NCAA Championships. Watch video of the 400mH here!

The women's 4x100m relay for the Olympic Development Elite was another highlight for Academy of Art. Thomas teamed up with junior Dinesha Bean, Stewart, and senior Jesseka Raymond to simply leave the competition in their dust. A 44.84 time was the result as the Knights vaulted themselves further into the #1 time in NCAA DII with this Nationals AQ. Watch video of the 4x100m here!

Participating in the same Olympic Development Elite category in the men's 400m dash, redshirt freshman Shaquille Howard beat out two Division I athletes (Idaho, Northern Arizona) with his top time of 47.06.


Cerritos, CA – Competing in the 2013 Beach Invitational hosted by Long Beach State on Saturday at Jack Rose Track, Academy of Art had the opportunity to get several more of its athletes action prior to the major meets coming up in the home stretch.

Freshman Keanna Moody followed up her program record in the 400m with a season-best in the 200m on Saturday. On the men's side of the 200m, senior Erik Piedad delivered his top time of 2013 as well.

The Urban Knights have another pair of important meets coming up next weekend. Apr. 25-27 features the Drake Relays in Des Moines, IA while the inaugural Pacific West Conference Championships take place in San Diego, CA over Apr. 26-27.