2024 NCAA Division II Indoor Nationals Results
PITTSBURG, Kan. – A grand total of seven Urban Knights hoisted All-American trophies on the podium as Academy of Art track & field returned to Robert W. Plaster Center to close out NCAA Division II Indoor Nationals on Saturday.
Both triple jumps began the day's action as
Marie-Jeanne Ourega put herself through to the event final in fifth overall with a distance of 41-2.5 (12.56m) on her third attempt. Though fouls kept her from launching farther, she still remained on the podium with a seventh-place finish, concluding the indoor season as a 21-time All-American in her career to put her past ART U Hall of Famer
Mobolade Ajomale for the most by an Academy of Art student-athlete to date. The event was won by Cal State LA's Jonon Young who delivered a 43-3.25 (13.19m) after coming into the competition ranked 15th overall.
Yacouba Gnacko came out of the gate with an impressive first triple jump, immediately tying for first overall in the competition at 50-9.25 (15.47m), his second-farthest distance achieved this season. Though he moved back to fifth moving into the final and remained in that position the rest of the way, he did go 50-4 (15.34m) on his fifth try. The now six-time All-American ended as one of just four competitors to complete all six jumps which included National Champion Tre Betts of Pitt State who had been ninth in the country at the start of March.
After achieving a new personal record in the indoor 200m dash
on Friday,
Lauryn James was within steps of her competition at the turn toward the final straightaway and would place third in her heat as well as seventh overall at 24.25 to reach the podium. Lenoir-Rhyne's Alexis Brown, who James challenged in her same heat, ended up the victor at 23.32 with the second-fastest time in NCAA DII history.
Running as a foursome for the first time this season, the quartet of
Shareez Hamm,
Omodiaogbe Oboh,
Ajani Ince, and
Josh Marlin waited until the final heat to step onto the track. A strong opening leg had the Urban Knights in front initially before a big push by Northwest Missouri had the Bearcats well ahead for the heat victory and eventually second overall. Lincoln (Mo.) also gained separation for the second spot in the heat as ART U ended with a time of 3:12.22, taking third over St. Augustine's in the heat along with seventh overall as All-Americans.
For the Urban Knights women's team, eight total points had them into a knotted with four others for 22nd overall. Fourth in the West Region, but second among Pacific West Conference institutions, ART U was back of only sixth-place Azusa Pacific (29), 11th-place Cal State LA (18), and 16th-place Simon Fraser (14).
The Academy of Art men's team collectively scored six points, putting the Urban Knights in an eight-way tie for 30th. Academy of Art was still the only West Region school to score points at Indoor Nationals.
With its 2024 indoor season now complete, Academy of Art prepares to begin its outdoor campaign with Sacramento State's Hornet Invitational on Mar. 15-16.
