Stanford Invitational Results (Day 1)
Mike Fanelli Track Classic Results (Day 2)

Academy of Art track & field had many of its Outdoor Nationals provisional marks improve and added new names to the list to open the Stanford Invitational in addition to completing the second day of the Mike Fanelli Track Classic on Friday.

STANFORD, Calif. – Returning to Cobb Track & Angell Field for the Stanford Invitational, Urban Knights ascended the national rankings, highlighted by Yacouba Gnacko and Marie-Jeanne Ourega in the long jump, Ourega in the 100m hurdles, and Selena Arjona-Alcazar in the 100m dash among others.

Second of 31 jumpers in the competition after just his second attempt, Gnacko continued to improve with each try, soaring to a 24-2.5 (7.38m) in the fourth round. The mark pushed him past Stanford's John Kroeger for the top spot on the day as well as into a tie for fifth in the country as an Outdoor Nationals provisional qualifier. Gnacko also adds his name to the program's top five list at fourth in ART U history.

The long jump was strong on the women's side as well with Ourega holding her own against a variety of NCAA Division I competitors. Her second completion was her best as the Communications & Media Technologies major flew to a 20-8 (6.30m) for a new season best and second only to Stanford's Alyssa Jones. Ourega remains in possession of the top position in the nation by more than two inches.

Additionally, the 16-time All-American could be found contesting the 100m hurdles where she started with a 13.91 in the prelims that already made her a provisional qualifier for Outdoor Nationals. Ourega remained in sixth with a 13.92 in the final, but put herself fourth in the country with the prelims mark. 

Out of the 47 sprinters in the 100m dash prelims, two Urban Knights reached the final in the duo of Arjona-Alcazar and Darria Matthias. Both would improve upon their marks with Arjona-Alcazar dropping to 11.63 for fourth and Matthias to 11.75 for seventh by 0.005 seconds to close the event. Arjona-Alcazar rose into the top seven in NCAA DII and Matthias is top 12, each with the Outdoor Nationals provisional marks.

In action for the first time this outdoor season, Robin Black immediately became a provisional qualifier for Outdoor Nationals with his 52.66 effort in the 400m hurdles. He would come through as the top NCAA DII competitor in the 26-hurdler field, 11th in the nation, and fourth in Academy of Art history.

After narrowly missing the threshold for provisional qualification to Outdoor Nationals in his 2023 debut, Makarios Page bettered that mark with a photo finish versus Spencer Barrera of Idaho. Page ended up ahead by 0.007 seconds with his 47.74 effort which put him fourth of 39 on Friday and top 12 in the country.

Coming off an impressive basketball season in which she was among the nation's leaders in rebounding and double-doubles, Alisha Wilson debuted as an Outdoor Nationals provisional qualifier at 55.87 in the 400m. The Communications & Media Technologies picked up where she left off as an All-American in the event last year, settling into the country's top 16 after battling NCAA DI talent exclusively in her heat.

Like the women's 100m dash, there were two Urban Knights (the only two NCAA DII competitors) who made the final on the men's side as Ajani Ince turned in his best mark of the day at 10.54 in the prelims before Duncan Agyemang went 10.58 for his best in the final. Though both were just outside the Outdoor Nationals provisional standard, Ince took over the fifth spot in ART U history with his prelims performance.

SAN FRANCISCO – Out at Cox Stadium once again, multiple Academy of Art runners competed in the 1500m at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic.

On the women's side, Grace Southern debuted in the event with a time of 4:32.49 while the top finisher for the men was Hudson Lockette at 3:58.26, ending less than a second from his outdoor best.

Saturday sees the conclusion of ART U's second weekend of outdoor action in both the Stanford Invitational and Mike Fanelli Track Classic at their respective sites.