AZUSA, Calif. - Azusa Pacific wrapped up the Last Chance Meet on Saturday, and several Cougars took advantage of the final qualifying opportunity for Nationals, including a school record performance in the women's 4x400 relay.

Alayna Verner, Trinity Miller, Kiayra Holmes and Jaylah Walker ran their way into the Azusa Pacific record book this evening, as the quartet combined for a time of 3:40.58, which is the fastest time in school history. The previous record was set in 1996, when Michelle Campbell, Carmen Gage, Jackie Dixon and Fatima Yusuf posted a time of 3:43.10. Not only did Verner, Miller, Holmes and Walker set a new school record, but it ranks the Cougars at No. 5 on the national qualifying list for the event.

PROVISIONAL PERFORMANCES

In addition to the 4x400 relay, several Cougars improved upon their provisional standing.

Chin Agina, the reigning NCAA High Jump National Champion, entered this weekend ranked No. 8 in the high jump. She turned in a season-best performance this afternoon, clearing the bar at 1.77m (5' 9 ¾"), which moved her up three spots on the national list to No. 5. 

In the women's 1500, Jenny Sandoval turned in a lifetime best time, winning the event at 4:22.28. Not only was her time nearly seven seconds faster than her previous record, but it allowed her to jump up 30 spots on the qualifying list, as she entered the weekend at No. 37, and is now up at No. 7. In the same event, Briseida Garcia Meza also hit a personal record time, running 4:27.39, which improved her national ranking from No. 30 to No. 26.

On the men's side, Raymon Harper had a lifetime-best performance in the high jump. Harper cleared 2.11m (6' 11") on his first attempt at the height, which allowed him to jump from No. 24 on the qualifying list to No. 17. 

In the final event of the meet, the men's 3K steeplechase, Nixon Korir set a new personal record. Korir crossed the finish line at 8:57.07, and his time allowed him to move up from No. 18 to No. 19.

Alysa Henry, who was on the provisional list in the javelin entering this weekend, improved her mark with a personal record of 42.45m (139' 3") in the heptathlon javelin. Henry is currently No. 39 nationally.

Azusa Pacific also had multiple athletes hit the provisional standard for the first time this season.

In the decathlon, Aaron Worrell scored a total of 7,034 points, which puts him at No. 12 nationally. Following a strong day one on Friday, Worrell turned in lifetime-best performances in three of five events on Saturday. He set personal records in the discus (35.14m/115' 3"), javelin (44.57m/146' 2"), and the 1500 (4:34.63).

Isaiah Harris leaped his way onto the qualifying list in the long jump, reaching a distance of 7.41m (24' 3 ¾") on his third attempt of the day. Harris' mark set a new personal record, and it places him at No. 23 on the qualifying list.

In the men's 1500, Ben Sumner set a personal record, crossing the finish line with a time of 3:46.53. His time ranks him No. 34 nationally for the event.

PERSONAL RECORDS SET ON SATURDAY
Allie Brooks | Javelin - 41.72m/136' 10"
Raymon Harper | High Jump - 2.11m/6' 11"
Joey Rauwerda | Pole Vault - 4.70m/15' 5"
Isaiah Harris | Long Jump - 7.41m/24' 3 ¾"
Abi Hume | High Jump - 1.67m/5' 5 ¾"
Aaron Worrell | Discus - 35.14m/115' 3"
Aaron Worrell | Javelin - 44.57m/146' 2"
Aaron Worrell | 1500m - 4:34.63
Alysa Henry | Javelin - 42.45m/139' 3"
Juwan Perkins | 400m - 52.26 seconds
Trinity Miller | 100m - 11.93 seconds
Ashanti Perkins | 100m - 12.10 seconds
Alana Perkins | 100m - 13.01 seconds
Sid Varland | 100m - 10.76 seconds
Alana Perkins | 200m - 26.62 seconds
Sid Varland | 200m - 21.60 seconds
Juwan Perkins | 200m - 22.95 seconds
Jenny Sandoval | 1500m - 4:22.28
Briseida Garcia Meza | 1500m - 4:27.39
Ben Sumner | 1500m - 3:46.53
Riley Burns | 1500m - 3:53.15
Dider Sandoval | 1500m - 4:04.43
Rylie Cabalse | 1500m - 4:11.11
Ryan Negrette | 1500m - 4:15.40
Nixon Korir | Steeplechase - 8:57.07

Up Next: With Nationals up next, which will take place in Michigan (hosted by Grand Valley State) on May 25-28, the Cougars will await the announcement of the selected entries by the NCAA that determines the field of competitors. The announcement is expected to be made this Tuesday, May 17. The Cougars' selected enteries will be announced on APUCougars.com. The women's team, ranked No. 1 in the most recent USTFCCCA National Ranking Index, has 32 times/marks on the provisional qualifying list, including 17 times/marks ranked in the top-10. On the men's side, the Cougars were ranked No. 16 in the latest NRI, with 18 times/marks on the provisional list.