2020 University of Washington Invitational Results (Final)
SEATTLE – The final month of regular season preparation toward NCAA Division II Indoor Nationals began with Academy of Art track & field posting several significant marks both historically and nationally at the UW Invitational inside Dempsey Indoor. Among the highlights was
Natalia Novak in the mile,
Ombretta Picciolie Minkue Meye in all four of her races,
Grant Swinton in the 400m, as well as the tandem of
James Young and
Joshua Browne in the 800m.
The day began with a memorable mile from Novak whose 4:55.74 time elevated her to second in program history. Pushed by competing against a majority of NCAA Division I talent in the event, the Communications & Media Technologies major achieved a Nationals provisional and the mark put her into Division II's top 11.
"This was a step in the right direction as we definitely improved a little this weekend," said director of track & field/cross country
Kevin LaSure. "Both men's and women's DMRs ran with great effort and produced our best times thus far this season yesterday then Natalia started Saturday with a great performance in the mile, jumpstarting strong efforts for everyone else the rest of the day."
On the men's side,
Charlie Messai dropped his fastest time of 2020, 4:12.78, to finish just over a second off provisional qualification. He was also less than a second off his 2019 personal record (4:12.37) which remains fourth all-time in ART U history.
One of the busiest competitors on Saturday was Ombretta Minkue Meye who contested the 60m prelims, 400m, 4x400m relay, then the 60m final all in a span of a few hours. Beginning with a 7.59 in the 60m prelims to join
Darria Matthias (7.70) in the final, Minkue Meye entered the country's top 10 in the 400m with a 55.61 good for Indoor Nationals provisional qualification and fourth in program history. The day continued with an impressive split on the 4x400m and ended on a 7.66 in the final, claiming sixth behind fourth-place Matthias (7.60).
"Ombretta had a really good day and what she did today was really impressive," said LaSure. "To be able to run the prelims of the 60m then come back and run 55.6 in the open 400m, come back two hours later to split 55 seconds on the 4x400m relay, and come back less than 30 minutes later and run 7.66 in the 60m finals is a product of the work she has put in this entire season. As we start to enter the championship segment of our season, I am excited about what she has a chance to do because of the work she's put in."
In the men's 400m, the quickest time Swinton has ever run in an ART U uniform brought him up to Nationals provisional status and top 20 in the nation. Taking third of 40 in the event itself, the Communications & Media Technologies major delivered a 48.49 to take a strong step forward in his progress.
The duo of Young and Browne were separated by less than a second in the 800m and it was the former who debuted second in program history with a time of 1:53.57. He was less than a second from reaching the Indoor Nationals provisional standard and Browne ended up matching his own personal record to the fraction of a second at 1:54.04.
"Josh and James ran really good 800m races this week and definitely have a lot more left in the tank," said LaSure. "Grant ran well in the 400m and is really starting to understand and execute the race properly which has led to significant improvements in his performances."
ART U sends its teams to the Midwest next weekend as action will be split between the Hillsdale Wide Track Classic in Michigan and the Notre Dame Meyo Invitational in Indiana over Feb. 7-8.
