Results
 
BOSTON – University at Albany sprinter Jan Michael Gutierrez Almedina was the lone Great Dane Saturday to compete in Boston University's David Hemery Valentine Invitational.  Seeking to improve upon his season-best marks in the 200m and 400m and earn a spot in the 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships, Gutierrez Almedina finished the day with two top-three finishes in his events.
 
The 400 went off first late Saturday morning.  Earlier this season, Gutierrez Almedina became the fifth Great Dane in program history to break the 47-second barrier in the event, and just the third to do so indoors.  His time of 46.98 placed him in the first and fastest heat of the event, holding the fourth-best overall seed time.
 
From lane three, Gutierrez Almedina navigated the first of two laps at the Terriers' Track and Tennis Center in second place, with a 200m split time of 22.07.  He closed in 25.16 to finish third overall in 47.23, his second-fastest indoor time ever.
 
A few hours later, in the early afternoon, Gutierrez Almedina once again took to the track, this time for the 200m.  He is UAlbany's program record-holder in the event, and the first Great Dane to break the 21-second barrier over 200m.  His best time, a barely wind-aided 20.95 from 2019, also placed him in the fast heat, as the top overall seed.
 
Starting from the preferred lane five, Gutierrez Almedina placed second overall in a season-best 21.23.  The winner was Kimorie Shearman from LIU who crossed the line narrowly ahead of Gutierrez Almedina in 21.17.
 
Gutierrez Almedina will rejoin his Great Dane teammates in two weeks at the America East Indoor Championships, again at the Track and Tennis Center.  Competitors have until February 28 to record a qualifying time for consideration for NCAA Indoor Championships.