2017 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championships

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Academy of Art University track & field started strong on day one of the 2017 NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships, coming away with two All-Americans and a qualifier for the finals inside the Birmingham Crossplex. Michane Ricketts and Craig Mattox each claimed All-American honors, finishing third and eighth respectively in the long jump while Mobolade Ajomale took first overall after two heats of 60m prelims.

With many awaiting Ajomale's encore to his 60m indoor title from 2016, the Canadian redshirt sophomore delivered a performance better than advertised this season. He not only won his heat, but put up the fastest time any NCAA DII runner has posted all year with a 6.62 mark. He was 0.08 quicker than the next closest finisher, Tiffin's Reginald Thomas, and topped his own 6.64 season-best.

The men's long jump was a rollercoaster of emotion as both Ricketts and Mattox did not offer finals-qualifying marks until their respective third and last attempts in the prelims. However, each of those would be their best of the day and good enough to place both in the top eight and within the All-American range. Ricketts went 24-5.5 (7.45m) and Mattox posted a 23-11.5 (7.30m).

Academy of Art will return to the Birmingham Crossplex tomorrow for all five events in the women's pentathlon featuring Marion Presigny plus the men's 200m prelims with Ajomale. The pentathlon begins with the 60m hurdles at 11:05 a.m. CT (9:05 a.m. PT).