2023 WSU Open & Combined Events Results

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Urban Knights' third and final trip to The Podium this season for the WSU Open & Combined Events saw Academy of Art track & field deliver another program record, Robin Black in the 60m hurdles, as well as other season bests that resulted in NCAA Division II Indoor Nationals provisional qualification on Saturday.

"Great effort all around," said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Kevin LaSure. "We had a couple school record performances and several NCAA provisional qualifying times and marks this weekend, which shows we are definitely moving in the right direction. I'm extremely proud of the way the team competed through some adversity this weekend."

Since his 8.01 in the season's first meet last December, Black had crept ever closer to the program record just under eight seconds and, after qualifying through the 60mH prelims, he broke that barrier and then some with a new ART U record of 7.95 in the event final. Owner of the new top time by 0.04 and 10th in the country, Black was the top NCAA finisher in a final packed with DI talent as well as one familiar face in Shareez Hamm who went 8.25 for the program's fifth-fastest time to date in his third opportunity to compete in the event.

Britney Clark posted her two best 60m times of the year on Saturday, going 7.60 for third out of 68 other sprinters in the qualifying round then dropping to 7.53 for seventh of 21 in the prelims. With the effort, she rose to 13th in the country as an Indoor Nationals provisional and put herself with elite company at fifth in program history.

Clark was not done, however, because the first individual 400m of her collegiate career lay ahead. In numerous 4x400m relays throughout her time, the Writing for Film, Television & Digital Media major debuted at 56.61 as a 400m individual, placing sixth of 61 on the day as well as 24th in NCAA DII, representing the lone Knight provisionally qualified.

An impressive day for Clark concluded with her joining Selena Arjona-Alcazar, Lina Hanich, and Michaela Andrews for ART U's fastest 4x400m relay this season at 3:48.67. The Indoor Nationals provisional qualification had the Knights second of 16 teams including 11 NCAA DI squads and up to 11th in NCAA DII.

Following her event debut in December, Mare-Jeanne Ourega dropped her time in the 60mH for third occasion Saturday as she bested 17 others nearly all from DI institutions with an 8.60 in the prelims. Some 0.08 seconds from her personal record, the mark brought her into the country's top 10 as an Indoor Nationals provisional qualifier.

The dynamic triple jump duo of Mathieu Tshani and Yacouba Gnacko was at it again Saturday, finishing second and third respectively with some of their best jumps coming in their final attempts. Tshani surpassed 15.00m (49-2.5) in all four of his legal completions, ending at 50-2.5 (15.30m) for the runner-up finish out of 13 others who almost exclusively hailed from DI schools. Meanwhile, Gnacko settled into third in the field when his fifth attempt had him go for a season-best 49-11.25 (15.22m). The Indoor Nationals provisional effort put him eighth in the nation and just four spots from his teammate nationally.

In addition to his aforementioned success in the hurdles, Hamm was busy battling 51 others and turning in the day's fifth-fastest 400m time at 48.40. He would also combine with Crockett Schooler, Jaden Singleton, and Vaughn Lacour for a 3:19.06 mark in the 4x400m relay that, while putting the quartet fourth of 14 in the event, was less than two seconds from the Indoor Nationals provisional standard.

The second 3000m of the season for Katharina Goetschl was marked by a more than three-second improvement as nearly broke into the program's top five with a 10:00.50 mark that had her seventh of 38 competitors.

A return to the Virginia Beach Sports Center is next for Academy of Art with the DII Indoor Track & Field Pre-Nationals coming up on Feb. 10-11.