COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Azusa Pacific closed out the two-day UCCS Pre-Holiday Invitational on Saturday, and the day consisted of four provisional-worthy performances, six event champions, and some personal bests. 

Multis: Lincoln Krog closed out the heptathlon with the final three events, and at the end of it all, he scored a personal best 5,063 points, which earned him provisional status and put him in ninth place in the national rankings. In two of the three events on Saturday, Krog set new lifetime records, running the 60 hurdles in a time of 8.80 seconds, and taking first in the pole vault with a clearance of 4.60m (15' 1"). 

Through four of the seven heptathlon events, Krog is in third place overall with 2,864 points. Krog finished in the top three in all four events, including an indoor personal best effort in the shot put, where he took third at 11.79m. In the long jump, Krog reached the second furthest distance of the day, landing at 6.85m. Tomorrow, Krog will seek to hit provisional status (needs at least 1,889 points), with the 60 meter hurdles, pole vault, and 1,000 meter run scheduled to occur.

Field Events: Three different Cougars hit provisional marks in the field events on day two, with Chin Agina (women's high jump), Raymon Harper (men's high jump), and Jermel Jones II (men's triple jump) each winning their respective events. 

Agina cleared the bar at 1.83m (6' 0"), which is her indoor personal record and also puts her atop the indoor national rankings this season. "Chin has started up right where she left off (2021 NCAA Division II Outdoor High Jump National Champion)," said head coach Jack Hoyt, "and it is mind blowing how good she can be this year."

In the men's high jump, Harper tied his lifetime mark of 2.10m (6' 10 ¾"), which is tied for No. 3 on the indoor national rankings. 

"Winning both high jump competitions with strong national marks is a great way to start the season," said Hoyt, "I know that both Chin and Raymon are eager to get back to work and keep improving and growing."

Jones II has already reached provisional status in two events through just one meet this season, as his leap of 15.03m (49' 3 ¾") is his lifetime best in the triple jump, and ranks him third nationally in the event. On Friday, Jones II set a new personal best in the long jump (7.65m/25' 1 ¼"), which is the nation's top mark thus far.

Azusa Pacific had a total of four event champions in the field events on day two, as Weston Ellis claimed the top spot in the men's shot put, reaching a distance of 15.28m (50' 1 ¾"), which is his lifetime best. 

Track Events: On the track, Azusa Pacific won both the men's and women's 400 crown, with Jaylah Walker crossing the line first for the women, and Daniel Bessolo winning for the men. Walker won the event with a time of 57.16 seconds, and she highlighted a first through third sweep for the Cougars. Alayna Verner, who made her collegiate debut this weekend, took second place at 57.91 seconds, and Kiayra Holmes finished third with a race of 58.21 seconds. For Walker, it was her second event victory of the week, as she won the 200 on Friday.

Bessolo won his race with a time of 49.82, which is a solid start for the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Men's 400 All-American. In the same race, freshman Dominic Gonzalez-Shelmire ran an impressive first 400 of his collegiate career, crossing the line third at 50.14 seconds.

"We are very happy with the job that our freshman sprinters, Dominic (Gonzalez-Shelmire) and Alayna (Verner), did this weekend," said Hoyt, "I am excited to see what is to come for them." 

In addition to Azusa Pacific's strong showing in both the men's and women's 400, Walker ran well in the 60 hurdles finals. She placed second in the event, running a personal best time of 8.77 seconds.