2024 PacWest Awards

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Less than one week after all three finished as All-Americans in multiple events at NCAA Division II Outdoor Nationals, the Academy of Art track & field trio of Shareez Hamm, Lauryn James, and Toni-Ann Lindsay were recognized by the Pacific West Conference for their outstanding outdoor seasons on Friday. Hamm and James each garnered PacWest Track Athlete of the Year honors while Lindsay earned Freshman Track Athlete of the Year.

"Extremely proud of what these three student-athletes accomplished this season," said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Kevin LaSure. "All three were a huge part of the successes we had this year."

Following his sixth and seventh career All-American honors plus USTFCCCA Indoor West Region Track Athlete of the Year honors in his final indoor season, Hamm ended with quite the exclamation mark, becoming the 2024 National Champion in the 400m hurdles. That feat combined with a top-four finish in the 4x400m relay, his ninth All-American honor to date, and top-11 result in the 4x100m relay after he completed the regular season ranked top 13 in all three events.

Going into Outdoor Nationals as one of just seven NCAA DII hurdlers to run sub-51.00 this year, Hamm impressively improved upon his fifth-place regular season ranking with a new personal record 49.97 (second in ART U history) for the title. He joined his teammates in running the second-fastest 4x400m time in program history (3:08.48) that same day to better the 3:08.56 mark that had made them PacWest Champions and new meet record-holders. En route to his accomplishments in the season's final month, the Photography major was a two-time PacWest Track Athlete of the Week (Mar. 19, Apr. 23), three-time USTFCCCA All-Region, and a PacWest Champion in the 4x100m relay as well.

"Shareez has been a leader for our program over the past few years and most times we go as he goes so all the accolades he receives are well-deserved and earned," LaSure said. "We will definitely miss his leadership next season, but I'm so proud of all that he's accomplished to this point in his career; couldn't happen to a better person."

Delivering a grand finale to her collegiate career after she was named USTFCCCA Indoor West Region Track Athlete of the Year and went on to secure her first All-American selection with the program in the Indoor 200m dash, James signed off on quite an outdoor campaign. She concluded as an All-American in three of her four events at Outdoor Nationals, propelling the 4x100m relay to fourth overall while adding another individual honor in the 100m dash all after completing the regular season ranked among the country's top 21 in five different events.

A three-time PacWest Track Athlete of the Week (Mar. 19, Mar. 27, Apr. 23), James initially broke the program's 100m record at Mt. SAC Relays on Apr. 19 before bettering that mark with an 11.40 in the event's Outdoor Nationals prelims. Her best 200m time (23.31) made her a PacWest Champion and contributed 10 of her 22.5 points that earned her the title of PacWest Most Outstanding Track Athlete of the Meet. Also first with her 4x400m relay teammates at the conference meet, the Animation & Visual Effects major anchored the Urban Knights' 3:38.36 record-breaking effort on May 11 at the Franson Last Chance. James closed the regular season as a five-time USTFCCCA All-Region honoree and ranked inside ART U's top three all-time in every event she competed in this year.

"Lauryn has stepped up big time for us this season, leading us on both relays as well as being one of the top performers in the region and country in the 100m, 200m, and 400m," LaSure said. "She has worked extremely hard to get to this point and I am extremely proud of all that she has achieved this season. We will definitely miss her presence next year."

Lindsay burst on the collegiate scene and became an All-American in the Urban Knights' relays this past outdoor season. The native of Portmore, Jamaica served as an integral part of the 4x100m and 4x400m relays that placed fourth and ninth respectively at Outdoor Nationals after both were among the top four by the end of the regular season. Lindsay herself was also an Outdoor Nationals provisional qualifier in the 100m, 200m, and 400m during the year.

Excelling across the board, Lindsay was part of the aforementioned 3:38.36 record-breaking 4x400m effort on May 11 at the Franson Last Chance, helped ART U go 44.50 for what was the second-fastest time in NCAA DII (third in program history) during the regular season, and dropped the third-quickest 100m mark among Urban Knights (11.47) all that same day. The Communications & Media Technologies major ended her outdoor campaign with two USTFCCCA All-Region selections, was a PacWest Champion in the 4x400m, and placed inside the top five in four events at the conference meet.

"Toni-Ann has a very bright future," LaSure said. "It has been a pleasure to watch her development this year and I truly think she is just scratching the surface of what she is capable of achieving. It's great to see her recognized for all the hard work she has put in this season."

This is the second PacWest annual honor for Hamm after he was named PacWest Track Athlete of the Year in 2022 and it is the first for both James and Lindsay in their respective careers.