2024 Bryan Clay Invitational Results

AZUSA, Calif. – Academy of Art track & field yet again had multiple Urban Knights claim some of the best performances of their respective careers in the conclusion of Azusa Pacific's Bryan Clay Invitational across Friday and Saturday.

Highlighting Friday's action, Lina Hanich memorably came away with her fastest outdoor 800m to date at 2:08.61. Up to second in program history, she moved up significantly as a NCAA Division II Outdoor Nationals provisional qualifier to fifth in the country. On Saturday alongside Toni-Ann Lindsay, Lauryn James, and Juvonna Cornette in the 4x400m relay, Hanich then anchored the Urban Knights' 4x400m relay toward a 3:45.78 time across the finish line. It was the quartet's third Outdoor Nationals provisional mark of the season.

The triple jump featured two more Outdoor Nationals provisional efforts from Academy of Art as Yacouba Gnacko dominated the 42-jumper field by more than a full foot with his new season-best 51-9.25 (15.78m) on his second attempt. The result only furthers his hold on the top position in the country. On the women's side, Marie-Jeanne Ourega also spent her second trip down the runway delivering a 39-7.25 (12.07m) distance. She enters the top 25 in NCAA DII with the completion.

The final ART U competitor on Saturday was Katharina Goetschl who turned in the fastest 1500m of her collegiate career. Taking over a second off her previous best, the Industrial Design major posted a 4:28.65 mark for her second Outdoor Nationals provisional qualification in two tries in the event this season while placing her 48th of 190 on Saturday. Narrowly still fourth in ART U history, Goetschl rises to 20th in NCAA DII.

Finishing fourth and seventh respectively out of a field of 90 sprinters, James and Cornette went 11.78 and 11.82 respectively in the 100m dash, adding more Outdoor Nationals provisional marks to their resumes this season. It was the fifth time bettering the standard in the event for James (who holds a season best of 11.56) and the sixth for Cornette (who holds a season best of 11.43) here in 2024.

James added a 24.06 time in the 200m dash, putting her sixth of 78 on the day and, though not better than her 23.52 from this past March, marked her third Outdoor Nationals provisional qualification in three tries thus far.

Out of the 54 competitors in the 400m hurdles, Shareez Hamm emerged eighth overall sporting his fifth Outdoor Nationals provisional qualification at 51.90. Meanwhile, Ajani Ince ran his second-fastest 200m dash of the year at 21.17 in eighth of 85, giving him two consecutive times under the Outdoor Nationals provisional standard.

In Southern California once again for their final competition before the Pacific West Conference Championships, the Urban Knights will next contest the Mt. SAC Relays across Apr. 17-20.