2014 Pepsi Florida Relays Results

2014 SF State Distance Carnival Results

Back for more in both the Pepsi Florida Relays and the SF State Distance Carnival, Academy of Art University Track & Field closed out both events with more personal bests and a new program record in the men's 4x400m relay.

Gainesville, FL – Inside James G. Pressley Stadium, the Urban Knights had both genders' teams right in the mix in their respective 4x400m relays.

One of Saturday's two highlights was the men's foursome of Ronald Spears, Jr., Jordan Edwards, Shaquille Howard, and Quinlan Wright combining for a new program record of 3:13.58. They knocked more than 0.35 off the previous mark set in San Diego last weekend and vaulted up to ninth in all of NCAA Division II with the time. It was the first NCAA provisional qualifying mark for this quartet.

On the women's side, Mistic Scott, Dierra Haven, Dinesha Bean, and Keanna Moody had their best relay of the season, going 3:42.48 and finishing 25th out of 56 teams. The time was also improved on their previous NCAA DII provisional qualifier, placing them #3 in the country.

"I was very proud of the fight and heart we ran with today if not the execution," head coach Charles Ryan said. "The 4x4 is a heart and character event and, on those merits, we closed well today."


San Francisco, CA – Round two of the SF State Distance Carnival featured personal records aplenty for the ART U men and women.

The women's highlights came in the 100m dash where Amanda Odesjo posted a new PR of 12.26. She finished third of 43 to lead the way for the Knights. In the 400m, Omotoyosi Oniru also ran a lifetime best of 58.10 en route to fifth out of 38, backed by Kayla Pritchett's 11th place finish. Those three combined with Amira Barnett in the 4x400m as well.

"I was very proud of all the seasonal best marks we got back at home at SF State," Coach Ryan said. "Toyosi, Kayla, and especially Amanda Odesjo really took advantage of their opportunity and did some good things today. If they continue to work, they can make some real noise for us this year."

Jessica Kinssies added a collegiate best in the discus throw, offering a 112-2.

For the men, both Thomas Benson and Gino Simmons had PRs in the 400m dash, running 50.73 and 50.99 respectively to finish among the top 20 in a race of 44.

"We had a lot of lifetime bests today and it's the time of the season when those need to start coming so that was a very good thing," associate head coach Torrey Olson said.

Marlon Britton had a solid day in the 110m hurdles and 100m dash, finishing third (11.05) and fifth (15.11) respectively.

ART U will next head to Tempe, AZ for the Sun Angel Classic hosted by Arizona State on Apr. 11-12.