2018 Cal State East Bay Invitational Results (Final)

HAYWARD, Calif. – Competing in over 20 different events on the final day of the Cal State East Bay Invitational out at Chabot College on Saturday, Academy of Art University Track & Field posted a host of first-place finishes including a superhuman day from Rian Young-Werner and a Nationals provisional mark in the high jump from Hannah Hensley.

"It was a great all-around effort today," said head coach Kevin LaSure. "We really wanted to use today as an extra training day in preparation for the championship segment of the season coming up."
 

Young-Werner toed the line an incredible six different times on Saturday with appearances in the prelims and finals of the 100m, the 4x100m relay, the 400m, and both the long and triple jumps. And perhaps more amazingly, she would walk away with six first-place marks. She went 12.21 to claim first in of 23 in the 100m prelims then added a 12.36 to win a final that also included Marion Presigny and Jameela Muhammad. She would later join those teammates as well as Jasmine Grace for the top result (47.59) in the 4x100m relay.

In her first collegiate 400m, Young-Werner would beat out 23 others with a 57.47 and, in two events she regularly contests, she propelled herself to an 18-5 (5.61m) for the day's top long jump and added a Nationals provisional qualification with her season-best 40-5 (12.32m) in the triple jump. The mark has her among the country's top five.

"Rian had a really great day today," said LaSure. "We asked her to do a lot in a short period of time and she rose to the occasion and was just phenomenal. She is really starting to put things together in the triple jump and is starting to execute a lot of the things Coach Akil Gipson has been working on with her so that's great to see."

In the high jump, Hensley held nothing back and was rewarded with not only her best mark of the season, but a Nationals provisional qualifier as well. The 5-8.75 (1.75m) height put her now tied for second in the country.

"It's great to have Hannah back healthy as she is a huge part of our team and our ability to be successful at a high level," said LaSure.

the men's side, the quartet of Marlon Britton, Kaze Poitier, Arrun Palacio, and Mobolade Ajomale combined for the best 4x100m relay (41.40), but ended up missing provisional qualification by 0.30 across the line.

Ajomale had individual success in the 400m, taking first of 35 sprinters with a season-best time of 48.25. Nicolas Morales Williams offered his own season-best of 49.85 while finishing fifth overall.

Rabah Houali pushed past 37 others for a personal-best 1:52.41 in the 800m which, though 0.35 off provisional qualification, moved him up to fourth on the program's all-time list. Marvin Thomas and Freddie Hessian, who rounded out the meet's top three along with Houali, each had their own lifetime-bests, going 1:54.34 and 1:55.65 respectively.

Also from the distance crew, Gatien Airiau took first of 13 in the 5000m and Joshua Thorson claimed the top spot out of 38 runners in the 1500m.

A huge personal best came from Palacio in the long jump where he soared to a 22-3 (6.78m) for second of 14 in the meet. He would also place second of 41 in the 200m followed by Poitier in fourth.

Academy of Art next makes its annual trip to Southern California for the Mt. SAC Relays (Apr. 19-21) while another contingent will remain in the Bay Area for Stanford's Cardinal Classic (Apr. 20-21).