2020 Grand Valley State Big Meet Results (Friday)
ALLENDALE, Mich. – A total of five different Urban Knights ascended in their respective events, each turning in NCAA Division II Indoor Nationals provisional qualifying marks at the GVSU Big Meet. Inside the Kelly Family Sports Center on Friday, Academy of Art track & field offered impressive performances across sprint, mid-distance, and distance events alike including a new program record in the mile from
James Young.
The men's mile saw Young dominate in just his second time contesting the event with the program. Leading the collection of 58 runners who finished, Young went 4:04.14 to take over the fifth spot in the country with his Nationals provisional time. The mark broke Valentin Pepiot's 2016 program record by more than two seconds.
Natalia Novak continued her string of strong performances in the mile, dropping more than 19 seconds off her debut time on Jan. 11 to Friday's Nationals provisional 4:55.59 19. Still ranked 15th in the nation with her converted 4:55.28 from the Hillsdale Wide Track Classic, her raw time at the GVSU Big Meet was a personal record and has her still second in program history in the event.
After reaching the finals of the 60m and delivering a 7.60 there,
Darria Matthias had the best 200m race of her ART U career, going 24.43 for second of 76 sprinters on the day. Her Nationals provisional put her ninth in the nation just ahead of teammate
Ombretta Picciolie Minkue Meye (55.61).
Breaking out for his best 800m performance of the year thus far,
Rabah Houali delivered a Nationals provisional 1:51.89 good for now 14th in the country. The mark was a mere 0.32 from his ART U program record set two years ago. Also in the 800m,
Joshua Browne bettered his personal record with a 1:53.38 that put him now second in program history.
Individuals shined in both the men's and women's 400m races as
Grant Swinton was seventh out of a 55-man field at 48.39, moving into a tie for 16th in the country as a Nationals provisional qualifier. On the women's side,
Latavia Hawkins topped her personal record from with a 56.44 that is now just a fraction of a second behind the No. 22 spot in the nation.
Charlie Messai's second 3000m with ART U showed more than a 20-second improvement from his first as he dropped an 8:18.31 to finish eighth out of 53 on Friday. More importantly, he settles into 18th in NCA DII with his first Nationals provisional time.
Academy of Art will finish its third trip to Michigan this season with the Saturday installment of the GVSU Big Meet.
