Academy of Art University Athletics

In the biggest race of the season thus far, graduate student Gatien Airiau delivered arguably the best effort of his career. At the NCAA Division II West Regional Championships on Nov. 4, the Communications & Media Technologies major took fifth overall for the second-highest placement by an Urban Knight in program history.

Airiau cut more than 27 seconds off his best 10k time for a new lifetime-best of 30.08.4 through the Ash Creek Preserve course in Monmouth, Ore. Named All-Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as a result, the Sassenage, France native was the second-highest finisher from the Pacific West Conference and bettered the top runners from No. 16 Alaska Anchorage and Azusa Pacific.

Airiau will represent Academy of Art at the NCAA Division II National Championships on Nov. 18 in Evansville, Ind.