CLAREMONT, Calif. – Azusa Pacific opened its 2022 outdoor season on Saturday at the Pomona-Pitzer All-Comers meet, where the Cougars saw multiple athletes achieve provisional marks, win events, and set personal bests. 

Provisionals

The women's team, who are the defending NCAA Division II National Champions, set four provisional marks on the first day of the new season. In the high jump, Chin Agina cleared a height of 1.75m (5' 8 ¾") to put her on the national qualifying list. Agina is the defending high jump national champion.

In the pole vault, two Cougars met the provisional standard. Sara Wagenveld won the event with a provisional vault of 3.95m (12' 11 ½"), while Abigail Gray was the runner-up with a provisional height of 3.80m (12' 5 ½"). 

Nicole Warwick not only hit a provisional distance in the javelin at 44.75m (146' 10"), but she smashed her previous personal record of 36.85m (120' 11"), which she set at the Outdoor National Championships last season. 

For the men's team, true freshman Logan Peyton made his collegiate debut for the Cougars and he delivered a provisional javelin mark of 59.48m (195' 2") to open his career. Over his four attempts, Peyton consistently increased his distance significantly each time, as he opened with a 53.44m mark in his first attempt, followed by 56.54m in his second attempt, and a 57.63m effort in the third attempt, before hitting the provisional standard on his fourth and final opportunity. Peyton placed second in the event.

Event Winners

In addition to Agina's victory in the high jump and Wagenveld in the pole vault, Jordan Hammond was the first place finisher in the 400 (56.85 seconds), Molly Olson won the shot put with a personal-best of 12.52m (41' 1"), and Wagenveld also took first in the discus (40.70m/133' 6"). Olson not only won the shot put with a PR, but she set personal-records in a total of three events, doing so in the discus (39.29m/128' 1") and javelin (38.73m/127' 1") as well. 

Meanwhile, on the men's side, Raymon Harper won the high jump (6' 6 ¾") and Weston Ellis surpassed his personal bests in both the discus (50.25m/164' 10") and shot put (15.45m/50' 8 ¼") to win the events. Ellis also set a new personal best in the hammer at 53.71m (176' 2"). 

Freshmen Open Strong

In addition to Peyton's impressive debut, three other Cougar freshmen had top-five finishes in their first outdoor collegiate meets. On the track, Trinity Miller placed second in the 200 (24.47 seconds) and third in the 100 (12.16 seconds), while Sid Varland on the men's team turned in No. 4 finishes in the 100 (11.07 seconds) and 200 (22.13 seconds). Varland also competed in the high jump, where he placed second to Harper with a best vault of 2.00m (6' 6 ¾"). 

In the men's pole vault, Joey Rauwerda cleared a height of 4.55m (14' 11"), which earned him second place. 

Personal Bests (according to TFRRS)

Allison Bylsma (Hammer: 27.17m/89' 2")

Allie Brooks (Hammer: 34.86m/114'4")

Weston Ellis (Discus: 50.25m/164'10" | Shot Put: 15.45m/50' 8 ¼" | Hammer: 53.71m/176'2")

Luisa Fischer (100 Hurdles: 15.96 seconds)

Jordan Hammond (400: 56.85 seconds)

Ashley Hume (Javelin: 27.91m/91'7")

Nicholas Jordan (Pole Vault: 3.80m/12' 5 ½")

Trinity Miller (100: 12.16 seconds | 200: 24.47 seconds)

Molly Olson (Shot Put: 12.52m/41'1" | Discus: 39.29m/128'11" | Javelin: 38.73m/127'1")

Ashanti Perkins (100: 12.67 seconds | 200: 26.19 seconds)

Logan Peyton (Javelin: 59.48m/195'2")

Joey Rauwerda (Pole Vault: 4.55m/14'11")

Nikolas Trofort (200: TIED PR - 22.13 seconds)

Sid Varland (100: 11.07 seconds | 200: 22.13 seconds | High Jump: 2.00m/6' 6 ¾")

Nicole Warwick (Javelin: 44.75m/146'10")

Aaron Worrell (110 Hurdles: 15.21 seconds | Discus: 34.79m/114'2")

Up Next: Next weekend, Azusa Pacific will have athletes competing at both indoor and outdoor meets next Satuday, Feb. 26. One group will head to Seattle for the SPU Final Qualifier (indoor meet), while others will be at the Rossi Relays (hosted by Claremont-Mudd-Scripps).