2021 UIndy Last Chance Meet Results

INDIANAPOLIS – Capitalizing on the final opportunity to qualify for NCAA Division II Indoor Nationals, Academy of Art track & field had multiple Urban Knights rise in specific event rankings at the UIndy Last Chance Meet inside the Greyhounds' ARC on Saturday and Sunday. Marie-Jeanne Ourega improved her long jump mark among the nation's top five while Darria Matthias won the day's 60m final with her first provisional qualifier of the year.

All three of Ourega's long jump attempts exceeded six meters and it was her first, 19-10.25 (6.05m), that elevated her season-best. Handily winning the three-jumper competition, she held her top five ranking as one of three Nationals provisional qualifiers behind two automatics. Ourega added a 40-1.25 (12.22m) good for second in the triple jump where her season-best of 40-3.5 (12.28m) remains seventh in the country.

"It was great to get another opportunity to compete for the indoor season," said director of track & field/cross country Kevin LaSure. "The effort was great all around from everyone who competed. Marie-Jeanne continues to be consistent and I'm excited to see what her and Coach Nkosinza Balumbu do out at Nationals in two weeks."

In the prelims of the 60m dash, Matthias' 7.64 time came in second just 0.04 behind Emmanuel's Jharna Alston, but the Prospect, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines native outdid her competitor in the finals. Matthias delivered a 7.62, a sizable 0.26 drop from her previous mark three weeks ago, tying her for 18th in the country as a Nationals provisional qualifier. Selena Arjona-Alcazar followed her teammate into the final where she finished sixth with a 7.82 identical to her time in the prelims.

"It was great to see Darria rounding back into last season form with a win in the 60m, along with Selena who is starting to back to her old form," LaSure said.

ART U's lone competitor on Saturday, Natalia Novak won the meet's mile with a time of 4:59.77 (converting to 4:56.84 for track size). It was her first Nationals provisional qualification of the year, putting her 35th in country. She would return for the distance medley relay on Sunday where she joined  Hasna Kaarour, Hava Turner, and Lina Hanich for a 12:18.65 mark (converted to 3:56.30). Turner would also compete in the 4x400m relay with Alice Coisne, Arjona-Alcazar, and Audrey Courand, finishing 3:59.43 (converted to 3:56.30) as a quartet.

"Natalia had another consistent weekend in the mile and on the DMR along with Hasna and Lina," LaSure said. "Hava ran great for us and was an important part of both the DMR and 4x400. We are definitely looking forward to the Indoor Championships and the outdoor season beyond that, as the future looks extremely bright for this group!"

Individually, Courand took the top spot in the 60m hurdles, going 9.04 for a 0.16 improvement on her debut time.

The men's 4x400m team of Shareez Hamm, Omodiaogbe Oboh, Daquan Berry, and Makarios Page turned in a 3:21.29 which converted to a top 40 mark at 3:18.13 for track size.

Set to take place on Mar. 11-13 inside the Birmingham Crossplex in Alabama, the 2021 NCAA DII Indoor National Championships are up next for Academy of Art.