2021 Bryan Clay Invitational Results

AZUSA, Calif. – It was a truly historic day for Academy of Art track & field on Saturday at the Bryan Clay Invitational. James Young ran the second-fastest 1500m time in NCAA Division II history in his event debut, Natalia Novak added her own Outdoor Nationals automatic qualifier in the 1500m, and the men's 4x400m ran the second-fastest time in both the country and program history to make up an exciting final tune-up inside Azusa Pacific's Cougar Stadium before the Pacific West Conference Championships later this month.

"Great performances all around for the team this weekend," said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Kevin LaSure. "We had some student-athletes achieve some really special performances and hopefully we can continue to build on those as we get ready for the conference championships in two weeks."

In just his second outdoor race since becoming the NCAA DII national champion in the indoor mile, Young's first 1500m was one for the record books. He cruised to a time of 3:37.72 which, in addition to dropping well below the Outdoor Nationals automatic standard, was second only to Western Oregon's David Ribich for the fastest time in NCAA DII history. Currently the top time in DII and fourth in all divisions this season, Young's mark was the new ART U record by more than six seconds.

Novak had her own share of history in the 1500m on Saturday, bettering her own program record with an Outdoor Nationals automatic qualifying 4:18.60 in the event. Cutting over four seconds off the time she debuted at two weeks ago in Azusa, Novak's effort upped her to second in NCAA DII this season and 13th all-time. Fellow cross country teammate Hasna Kaarour also finished her first 1500m of the season at 4:31.56 for provisional qualification and a top-20 time in the nation.

Teaming up in the  4x400m relay, the quartet of Makarios Page, Grant Swinton, Omodiaogbe Oboh, and Kaze Poitier combined to put forth the impressive time of 3:10.38. The fastest mark run by an Academy of Art team since 2014, the effort was second in both program history and nationally as an Outdoor Nationals provisional qualifier.

After delivering a provisional in the 400m hurdles on Friday, Shareez Hamm improved on that time with a 52.52 in the event finals on Saturday. Rising to 11th in the all of NCAA DII, Hamm's season-best brought him ever closer to ART U's career leaders Quinlan Wright (51.82) and Roman Skovronski (52.14).

In the triple jump at the start of Saturday's action, Camille Jouanno placed herself among the nation's top 25 with an Outdoor Nationals provisional qualifying mark of 39-6 (12.04m). It was the farthest distance for an Urban Knight this season. She also won the finals of the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.71. 

In a six-competitor field, the 100m dash finals saw Darria Matthias emerge victorious at 11.80 with Ombretta Picciolie Minkue Meye (12.00) and Hava Turner (12.04) right behind her.

The men's 100m finals had another Urban Knight, Ajani Ince, place first overall with a time of 21.93 while Alice Coisne ended up among the top three in the finals of the 400m hurdles at 1:02.96 to take over the fifth spot in ART U history.

Academy of Art will next travel to Fresno for the PacWest Championships on Apr. 30 – May 1.