2021 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships Results (Day 1)

ALLENDALE, Mich. – Out of a cold and dreary Thursday at the Grand Valley State Lacrosse & Track Stadium emerged a national champion.

Academy of Art track & field wrapped up the first of three days at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships by seeing Marie-Jeanne Ourega soar to the top mark in the long jump to capture the second individual national title for the Urban Knights in 2021. Additionally, the women's 4x100m advanced through the prelims along with Natalia Novak in the 1500m.

"I'm very happy to become the national champion," Ourega said. "Despite the bad weather, I managed to jump well. It was my revenge from Indoor Nationals."

One of just three Outdoor Nationals automatic qualifiers coming into the day, Ourega was absolutely locked in against many of the jumpers she faced when she was runner-up at 2021 Indoor Nationals. Jumping at the end of the second heat, she immediately leapt into the top spot with a 20-6.5 (6.26m) in her first attempt, bettering the previous leader and indoor long jump champion, Saginaw Valley's Cheyenne Williamson, who had gone 20-4.25 (6.20m). University of Colorado - Colorado Springs' Hannah Meek was in the first position after second attempts, but she was once again bested by Ourega who finished the preliminary round with what would be her best jump of the day at 21-0 (6.40m).

Against the eight other competitors in the final, Ourega ended the event with no fouls and no jump shorter than her 20-3.5 (6.18m) in her second attempt. She won the national title by more than four inches (0.11 meters) and, by comparison, the fourth place finisher never surpassed 20-0 (6.09m) on the day.

"I'm just so proud of MJ," said Assistant Coach Nkosinza Balumbu. "I think she was a bit hungry after finishing runner-up at Indoor Nationals, but it was a something of a blessing in disguise because she kept her focus and continued elevating her performance. Going in as the favorite is not easy, but today was a testament to how consistent she has been this outdoor season. She stayed composed and did what she had to do at a meet of this level. I'm just so happy for her."

The long jump was not Ourega's only competition on Thursday as she anchored Ombretta Picciolie Minkue Meye, Darria Matthias, and Selena Arjona-Alcazar in the 4x100m relay prelims. Though GVSU and Minnesota State captured the heat's two automatic qualifiers, ART U still finished with the fifth spot overall at 46.12, ensuring their place in Saturday's final.

Making her first Outdoor Nationals with Academy of Art, Novak finished with automatic qualification out of her 1500m prelim heat with a 4:27.64 mark. She was sixth in her heat approaching the final 400m, but kicked to pass two others before crossing the line. Ninth overall out of the two heats, she will join 11 others in vying for the national crown on Saturday. 

In the prelims of the men's 400m hurdles, Shareez Hamm started strong and was leading his heat approaching the final hurdle, but ended up finishing with a time of 53.44, missing qualification to Saturday's final by 0.54 seconds.

Day two action of Outdoor Nationals will begin with Elliot Slade in the 800m prelims (3:35 p.m. ET), the men's 4x400m prelims (4:05 p.m. ET), the trio of Ourega, Rian Young-Werner, and Camille Jouanno in the triple jump (5:10 p.m. ET), Matthias in the 200m prelims (5:20 p.m. ET), Novak in the 800m prelims (5:40 p.m. ET), and Ourega in the 100m hurdles prelims (6 p.m. ET).