MARRYVILLE, Mo. – Azusa Pacific track & field closed out the Bearcat Invitational on Saturday, and the day was highlighted by 11 new or improved provisional marks, five event winners, and a day for Aaron Worrell in which he set two records for his country of Barbados.

On the women's side of competition, seven Cougars either set new or improved their provisional marks, led by Jaylah Walker in two events. In both the 60 hurdles and the 400, Walker ran personal bests on Saturday. In the hurdles, Walker posted a time of 8.57 seconds, which positions her at No. 4 on the national qualifying list. In the 400, Walker not only won the event with a time of 54.63, but her time of 54.63 made her the new national leader in the event. Prior to this weekend, Walker held the No. 2 spot on the qualifying list.

In addition to Walker's national-leading race in the 400, the event also produced two other provisional-worthy performances for the Cougars. Freshman Alayna Verner was the runner-up to Walker, and Verner's time of 55.37 puts her No. 5 on the qualifying list. Kiayra Holmes added the third provisional time of the event for the Cougars, running the fourth-fastest time of the day at 56.39 seconds, which is tied for the 17th spot on the national list. Holmes' time also ties her lifetime-best performance in the event.

Mechaela Hyacinth, who is the national leader in the 60 meters at 7.35 seconds, won the event on Saturday with a finals time of 7.45 seconds. 

Marian Ledesma ran her way onto the provisional qualifying list in the 800, as the veteran distance runner posted a time of 2:12.16. Her performance places her No. 13 on the national list. 

Not only did Walker, Verner, Holmes and Ledesma achieve or improve provisional status in their individual events, but the four teamed up in the 4x400 relay on Saturday to run a provisional time of 3:47. Verner ran the first leg, followed by Holmes and Ledesma, with Walker running the anchor leg. The quartet's time is the fifth-fastest race in the nation this season.

On the men's side of things, Aaron Worrell had a day to remember for the Cougars. Not only did he win the heptathlon with a provisional-qualifying score of 5,411 points that puts him No. 3 on the national list, but he also set two national records in his home country of Barbados. His indoor heptathlon point total is the highest-ever in Barbados' history, and he also became the country's all-time leader in the pole vault, as he cleared a height of 4.01m (13' 1 ¾") on Saturday that makes him the new Barbados record holder for the event. Worrell now shares a special connection with Azusa Pacific assistant coach Andrea Blackett, who is a two-time Olympian from Barbados (2000 & 2004). Blackett set two national records as well, running the fastest 400 hurdles race in the nation's history (53.36), as well as becoming Barbados' all-time 100 hurdles leader (13.39). 

Competing alongside Worrell in the heptathlon was Lincoln Krog, who finished this weekend with a personal-best score of 5,099 points. Krog's total was a 36-point improvement from his previous provisional score of 5,063 points, which he scored at the CRC Pre-Holiday Invite back in December. Krog is now No. 16 on the national list.

Jermel Jones II won two events on Saturday, placing first in the long jump with a leap of 7.59m (24' 11") and winning the triple jump with a provisional qualifying mark of 15.09m (49' 6 ¼"), which is also his personal-best. Jones II entered this weekend at No. 2 on the qualifying list in the long jump (7.65m/25' 1 ¼"), and he is now No. 12 in the country for triple jump. 

On the track, Daniel Bessolo delivered his season-best time in the 400, crossing the finish line with a season-best 48.40 seconds, which met the provisional qualifying standard.