2024 PLNU Track & Field Invitational Results
SAN DIEGO – Point Loma's Track & Field was the stage for Academy of Art to not only rise above the competition, but also elevate in the national rankings as NCAA Division II Outdoor Nationals provisional qualifiers during the PLNU Track & Field Invitational on Saturday.
Coming off two first-place results the day prior,
Ajani Ince stepped across the finish line a full 0.25 seconds ahead of the next closest competitor in the 100m dash. His time of 10.38 marked a personal record for the native of Barbados and, in addition to being the best of a 27-sprinter field, had Ince fifth in both ART U history and in the country as an Outdoor Nationals provisional qualifier.
Lauryn James made her outdoor 400m dash debut as an Urban Knight on Saturday and began among the NCAA DII leaders once again, going 55.71 inside the Outdoor Nationals provisional standard for 11th in the country. One spot behind her nationally was
Toni-Ann Lindsay at 55.83 as the duo also combined with
Darria Matthias and
Juvonna Cornette for a 46.06 in the 4x100m relay, giving Academy of Art its third Outdoor Nationals provisional qualification in three meets to start the outdoor season. The quartet won the day's event and slotted eighth in the nation as well.
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Just 0.01 seconds off his personal record in the 400m,
Omodiaogbe Oboh became the first Knight to deliver an Outdoor Nationals provisional qualification in the event this season. His time of 47.73 had him among the top 11 in NCAA DII as he led a five-man sweep of the top spots in the 400m by ART U with
Josh Marlin,
Shareez Hamm,
Jaden Singleton, and
Taj-Leon Wisdom all first to cross in a field of 18 competitors.
The high jump saw
Jason Bayindoula move up to third in ART U history with a clearance of 6-5 (1.96m) for a new season best.
Various other first-place finishes were turned in by Academy of Art as Cornette won the 100m,
Emmanuel Ajiroba ended ahead of the competition in the 200m,
Katharina Goetschl took the top spot in the 800m,
Lina Hanich led 31 others in the 1500m, and
Yacouba Gnacko bested a six-jumper field in the triple jump.
A busy end to the month of March will next see the Urban Knights compete in the Texas Relays (Mar. 28-30) as well as locally in the Stanford Invitational (Mar. 29-30) and Mike Fanelli Track Classic (Mar. 29-30).
