PITTSBURG, Kansas - Azusa Pacific track & field opened up two days of competition at Indoor Nationals on Friday, and the Cougars certainly made their presence felt to start the weekend. Jermel Jones II highlighted day one, as he became the 2021-22 NCAA Division II Indoor Long Jump National Champion. For the women's team, Chin Agina (high jump) and Sara Wagenveld (pole vault) performed their way to All-American status, while Jaylah Walker and Mechaela Hyacinth punched their tickets to Saturday's finals in multiple track events, following strong showings in the prelims. 

JONES II'S NATIONAL TITLE

Jones II earned the crown with a leap of 7.79m (25' 6 ¾"). The distance was a lifetime best for him, as his previous best mark was 7.65m (25' 1 ¼"), which he set in December. To capture the title, Jones II had to deliver a dramatic performance in his final attempt, as Washburn's Connor Last posted a distance of 7.76m (25' 5 ½") in his first attempt of the day. As a result, Jones II knew that he needed to put together the jump of his life, and he seized the moment on his sixth and final try to overtake the top spot on the podium. With his first-place finish, Jones II scored 10 points for the Cougars, which puts them in third place in the team scoring.

AGINA & WAGENVELD'S ALL-AMERICAN CLEARANCES

Agina cruised to a second-place, All-American finish in the high jump, as she cleared the bar on six consecutive attempts and ultimately finished with a leap of 1.79m (5' 10 ½"). In the pole vault, Wagenveld earned All-American distinction with a fifth-place finish, matching her lifetime-best clearance of 4.05m (13' 3 ½"). Combined, Agina and Walker scored 12 points for the Cougars, which puts them sixth in the team standings through one day of competition.

WALKER & HYACINTH SECURE SPOTS IN SATURDAY FINALS

On the track for the women's team, Jaylah Walker and Mechaela Hyacinth each qualified for Saturday's finals in multiple events. Walker will compete in the finals of the 400 and 60 hurdles, Hyacinth will run in the 60 finals, while both Walker & Hyacinth qualified for the 200 finals. In the prelims, Walker posted times of 8.47 (60 hurdles), 55.23 (400), 24.14 (200), while Hyacinth ran 7.45 (60) and 24.37 (200). To see when Walker and Hyacinth will run tomorrow, head over to Meet Central.

WORRELL WRAPS UP DAY ONE OF HEPTATHLON

After four events on Friday, Aaron Worrell is currently in ninth place in the men's heptathlon with a score of 2,987 points. Worrell's best performance on day one came in the high jump, where he cleared a height of 2.03m (6' 8") to finish in third and claim 831 points. Tomorrow, Worrell will seek to achieve All-American status, as he will compete in the 60 hurdles, pole vault and 100. 

Up Next: The Cougars are back in action tomorrow, with the second and final day of Indoor Nationals in Pittsburg, Kansas. To see tomorrow's competition schedule, as well as access the live stream and live results, visit Meet Central!