Education
University of Oklahoma. Bethune-Cookman University.
University of Oklahoma. Bethune-Cookman University.
With his 12.99 (+12) 110 metres hurdles on June 29, 2014 in a semi-final round of the United States of America Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, California, he moved into the prestigious sub 13 club and is currently the 17th fastest hurdler in history. Unfortunately, Ash did not manage to finish in the final. Later in the season, Ash was silver medalist at the 2014 IAAF Continental Cup, selected to the team because his time held up as the #2 time from the countries that make up the Americas team for the season.
Ash began hurdling at Knightdale High School in Knightdale, North Carolina.
He had only arrived at the school his senior year after growing up in a "run down" area of New Jersey. With virtually no athletic experience, he was recruited by the basketball coach and track coach David Castell.
He joined the track team because "I thought I could meet new people, and I guess it ended up working out.” He set school records in the 110 metres hurdles, 300 meters hurdles and the high jump. Graduating in 2008, he had the opportunity to run in the 2008 NACAC Under-23 Championships in Athletics, where he captured a bronze medal behind future world champions Jason Richardson and Ryan Brathwaite.
Ash did not have high expectations coming out of high school, not planning on attending college, but he received an offer at Bethune-Cookman University.
A couple of weeks later, he finished third at the 2010 United States of America Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Unfortunately the wind was +3.1 mps, well over the legal limit, so the time couldn"t count for record purposes, but foretold of his capability.
At Bethune-Cookman, he won both the 2009 National Collegiate Athletic Association Men"s Indoor Track and Field Championship and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men"s Outdoor Track and Field Championship as a sophomore, outdoors over Richardson. Later that summer he returned to the 2010 NACAC Under-23 Championships in Athletics, this time taking gold ahead of then defending world champion Brathwaite and running sub-13 for the first time, with a 12.98.
The following season he switched to the University of Oklahoma, defending his indoor championship and finishing third outdoors.
