2024 Silver State Invite/Multi Results (Day 1)

RENO, Nev. – Starting its 2024-25 indoor campaign on Friday inside a newly-constructed Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Academy of Art track & field opened with a collection of performances worthy of NCAA Division II Indoor Nationals provisional qualification on day one of the Silver State Invite/Multi.

The first successful long jump of the season for Marie-Jeanne Ourega, 19-8.52 (6.00m), immediately elevated her to become the first NCAA DII Indoor Nationals provisional qualifier and second in the competition but she would eventually improve upon that mark on her final attempt. Ending the competition at 20-2.5 (6.16m), the native of L'Haÿ-les-Roses, France remained second of the nine finalists and made it a margin of 11 inches (0.28m) between her and the next closest NCAA DII jumper so far this season.

Holding the top spot through 18 heats of the women's 200m dash, Toni-Ann Lindsay wound up fourth of 69 overall after delivering the fastest time of her collegiate career. She blitzed her heat in going 24.14 for not only the top mark among NCAA DII competitors in Friday's event but also among the best in the country with an Indoor Nationals provisional qualification in this young season.

On the men's side of the 200m event, Ajani Ince was the highest NCAA DII competitor to finish out of 37 sprinters as he secured third overall amid multiple individuals representing Cal State Fullerton and San Jose State. The native of Barbados was not far from his indoor record, going 21.59 as nearly a provisional qualifier to Indoor Nationals.

The women's 800m featured a narrow battle between Lina Hanich and Azusa Pacific's Olivia Alexandre with the former on the heels of the latter throughout the first 600m. In the end, Alexandre captured the win at 2:07.82 (converted to 2:07.82), but Hanich's 2:10.41 (converted to 2:09.82) gave both competitors Indoor Nationals provisional qualifications.

After reaching the final round in the men's long jump on his 22-8 (6.91m) second attempt, Yacouba Gnacko saved his best for last with a new indoor career mark of 23-4 (7.11m) coming on his sixth try and a sixth-place finish among the NCAA DI-heavy field in tow.

With momentum from a memorably dominant cross country run, Grace Southern found herself almost step-for-step with Sonoma State's Constance O'Neal at the front of their 3000m heat until the 7:30 mark when Southern made a decisive move, building what would be a nine-second victory margin at 10:12.90 (converted to 10:00.23 for altitude) over the field of 19.

Coming inside after a strong debut cross country campaign, Ethan Forbes placed first of 12 runners in the men's 800m, going 1:55.29 (converted to 1:54.77 for altitude) across the line.

ART U returns to Reno-Sparks Convention Center tomorrow for a final day of action in the Silver State Invite/Multi that will primarily feature jumps, sprints, and relays.