2014 San Diego State Aztec Invitational Results (Final)

San Diego ,CA – At the 36th annual San Diego State Aztec Invitational, ART U Track & Field added to its collection of NCAA provisional marks with stellar performances from Jordan Edwards, Shaquille Howard, Dinesha Bean, Keanna Moody, and both genders' 4x400m relays headlining Saturday's action.

"I'm really quite happy with how our team is starting to put things together," head coach Charles Ryan said. "We had a lot of big performances this weekend."

Edwards was off to an impressive start in the 100m dash, going 10.47 for not only first place of 17 in the event, but also a NCAA provisional qualifier as well. Not far behind in third was Ronald Spears, Jr. who turned in a 10.68.

Then, in the 200m, Edwards produced what is now the third-best time in NCAA Division II with a 21.20. It earned him third of the 25 competitors and was a new program record by a significant margin. Howard added an eighth place result.

"Jordan had this weekend dedicated to speed and, in both his races he executed well," Coach Ryan said. "This is all a part of a bigger picture for him and he handled himself well."

Howard was dominant in the 400m dash, pushing to a 47.52 which put him first out of 12 total sprinters. The 400m hurdles saw Quinlan Wright grab a new program record of his own by way of a 54.17 which was good for seventh out of 17.

Spears, Jr., Edwards, Howard, and Wright later united for ART U Track & Field's top time in the 4x400m (3:13.94), leading them to a NCAA provisional qualifier as well as second of nine in the meet itself. The men's 4x100m team of Spears, Jr., Edwards, Howard, and Alexander McNally came in third with a 40.99.

Edgar Panford registered his third triple jump over 50 feet on Saturday, delivering a 50-1.25 to win the event at the Aztec Invite. He surpassed seven others for the individual victory.

"Eddie is performing very consistently regardless of who or where the competition is and that's huge for anyone," Coach Ryan said. "He will finally get some competition next week and we are all excited to see that."

Bean's efforts highlighted three events on the women's side as she offered a 23.86 in the 200m dash for the #2 time in all of NCAA Division II. In addition to being a provisional qualifier, it was her career best and puts her second on the program's all-time list.

In the 100m hurdles, Bean came in second out of 27 competitors, wedged in between top finishers from Oregon and USC. She turned in a 13.35 for a new personal record and again the second-best time in all of NCAA DII.

"Bean really showed out today," Coach Ryan said. "It's really exciting to see her back to the level she should be. She dropped a lot of time off her hurdle mark from last week and looked like the star that she needs to be today."

Finally, the women's 4x400m saw Bean combine with Mistic Scott, Dierra Haven, and Keanna Moody for a significant improvement on their NCAA provisional qualifying time from Sacramento State. On this occasion, it was a 3:43.48 that put them second in the meet and dropped over two full seconds off their previous mark.

It was also a strong mark for Moody in the 400m dash where the sophomore placed fifth with a 55.18 that was 0.02 off her career best. It was an NCAA provisional qualifier and fourth in the country at this current time.

"I was very happy with Keke's race today," Coach Ryan said. "I know she really wants to break under 55, but for her to open her season in the same place she closed her season last year is a big deal."

Scott, winner of the previous day's 200m in her first time running the event collegiately, followed with a provisional mark in the 400m as well, going 55.93 for eighth place. It was another personal record for the freshman.

"Mistic above all others had the break-out performances of the weekend," Coach Ryan said. "She had huge breakthroughs in both the 400m and 200m so if you asked me to name an MVP of the weekend it was easily Mistic Scott. If she continues along this development path, she could be a game changer for us this year."

The day also featured Kaelyn Harbison taking ninth in the 800m as well as the tandem of Jasmin Guinn and Racquel Jones in the long jump.

Academy of Art University is back in action next weekend with a busy two days that includes the SF State Distance Carnival, Stanford Invitational, and Pepsi Florida Relays all on the schedule for Apr. 4-5.