JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - Ashford University men's track and field sophomore racewalk specialist Aleksander Jakobsen of Rock Island, Ill., earned an automatic berth to the 2011 NAIA Men's Indoor Track and Field National Championships over the weekend, finishing with a first-place time of 14:56.04.

Already having cleared the ‘B' standard and provisionally qualifying for the national meet with a time of 15:22.92 earlier this year, Jakobsen improved his time by nearly one minute and easily eclipsed the ‘A' standard time of 15:00.00.

"Aleksander has been working hard all year and his commitment to racewalking and work ethic shows in his performances," AU assistant coach Tyson Graham. "For the most part, Aleksander has had to do it by himself with not very many other competitors in the event this week. It's just him and the stopwatch."

Jakobsen broke his own school record with the time as well.

Heading into the Midwest Collegiate Conference Championships this weekend in Sterling, Ill., the Saints have three athletes already qualified for the national meet. Jakobsen joins junior high jumper A.J. Smith of Port Byron, Ill., and sophomore hurdler Christian Awah of Willow Springs, Ill.

The National Championships will be held March 3-5 at the GaREAT (Geneva Area Recreational, Educational and Athletic Trust) Sports Complex in Geneva, Ohio.