VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - For the second consecutive season, the Azusa Pacific women's track & field team earned a spot on the podium, as the Cougars placed fourth overall. The Cougars were led by Nicole Warwick, who claimed the individual national title in the pentathlon, was an All-American finisher in the long jump, and ran the third leg for the Cougars' All-American 4x400 relay team to close out the two days of competition. In total, Azusa Pacific scored points in seven different events across the two days.

Warwick captured the pentathlon victory with 4,066 points, which is a personal best effort and ranks second in school history. In four of the five events on the day, Warwick placed top-three, including a 60 hurdles win with a time of 8.59 seconds, which was just a tick off of her personal-best time of 8.57 seconds. "This was very special," said head coach Jack Hoyt, "She did not qualify last year and she wanted this title so bad. She ran with all of her heart and soul to stay close to the Central Missouri athlete who was trying to catch her." 

Warwick's title is a fitting reward to the resilience she has shown throughout her career. Warwick was the national runner-up in the pentathlon as a true freshman in 2018, but several injuries in the years since had constantly hindered her ability to return and capture the crown. This season, she entered Nationals ranked No. 1 in the pentathlon, and she went out and showed exactly why she was the favorite. After an All-American showing in the long jump yesterday, the title in pentathlon today, and the relay team's fifth-place finish, Warwick is now a 10-time All-American between indoors and outdoors. She is the 15th athlete in program history to be a 10-time All-American.

Alysa Henry achieved All-American status in the pentathlon for the second-consecutive season, as she placed third overall with a personal-best 3,964 points scored, behind personal records in two events. In the high jump, Henry matched her lifetime-best clearance of 1.68m (5' 6"), doing so in her second attempt at the height. In the final event of the pentathlon, the 800 meters, Henry ran the fastest time of her career, crossing the line at 2:24.94. 

"Alysa was getting through a leg strain, and her training had been limited over the weeks leading up to Nationals," said Coach Hoyt, "But she did not let it slow her down. She had a great pentathlon and really got us into the team score with her third-place effort." Henry is now a four-time All-American between the pentathlon and heptathlon (2021 & 2022).

On the track, Azusa Pacific had three All-American performances. In the 60 meter hurdles, the program record holder, Esther Conde-Turpin, set a new personal record in the finals, as she flew across the line at 8.27 seconds to finish third. "Esther did a great job in her first NCAA meet," said sprints coach Andrea Blackett, "She really kept her composure throughout the rounds. We are very excited to see what she can accomplish in the outdoor season as we still have a few things we can perfect over the coming weeks."

In the 400 meters, Alayna Verner raced her way to a sixth-place finish at 54.90 seconds, which earned her All-American distinction. "I am so proud of Alayna," said Blackett, "She has come a long way since last season when she did not make the finals. The growth I am seeing in her is great. She got her first individual All-American trophy today, and we are excited to build on that." 

Heading into the final event of the meet, the 4x400 relay, Azusa Pacific knew it would need a top-five finish to grab the final spot on the podium (top-four teams). The Cougars looked to the quartet of Verner, Conde-Turpin, Warwick and Kiayra Holmes to deliver. The team would do just that, as they combined for a time of 3:44.66 to win the second heat, and take fifth-place overall. "We knew going into that relay that every second was going to count and we had to win our hear," said Blackett, "We talked about getting out well and staying clear of traffic. Alayna led off and gave us a comfortable lead, and we were able to hold on throughout. I am proud of the way each of the four fought after a long two days of competition."

Azusa Pacific has now earned a spot on the podium in two-consecutive seasons, as the Cougars captured a third-place finish last season, which is the program's best indoor finish in the NCAA era.

On the men's side, two Cougars achieved All-American status this weekend. In the heptathlon, Aaron Worrell battled over the two days to finish as runner-up with a career-best 5,604 points scored. After setting two personal-bests on Friday, Worrell came back on day two and turned in a lifetime-best clearance in the pole vault, as he vaulted 4.55m (14' 11") on his second attempt at the height. "Aaron is new in the multi events but he is really starting to show how good he can be," said Hoyt, "All of his events were either personal bests or very close. To enter the meet in eighth place and finish in second is remarkable." Last season, Worrell was a Second Team All-American in the heptathlon.

Raymon Harper earned All-American recognition in the high jump after he matched his lifetime-best clearance of 2.12m (6' 11 ½") on his third and final attempt at the height. Harper finished eighth overall, and he is now a three-time indoor high jump All-American (2021 & Second-Team All-American in 2022).

Up Next: Azusa Pacific will now turn its full attention to the outdoor season, with its next meet being the Ross and Sharon Irwin Invitational (hosted by Point Loma) on Saturday, March 18.