SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Azusa Pacific track & field competed in its third outdoor meet of the 2023 spring season, with the Cougars heading south to the Ross and Sharon Irwin Invitational hosted by Point Loma. Between the men's and women's teams, there were 12 provisional performances.

MEN

Two Cougars sit atop the qualifying list in their respective events following Saturday's competition, as Felix Perrier is the national leader in the 5K, while Jermel Jones II has the nation's top mark in the triple jump.

Running the 5K for the first time as a Cougar, Perrier won the race by seven seconds, crossing the finish line at a time of 14:22.73. The time not only puts him at No. 1 in the country for the event, but it is also the fifth-fastest time in Azusa Pacific history for the event.

Jones II, an All-American in the triple jump last season, leaped a distance of 15.39m (50' 6") to overtake the top spot on the qualifying list. His mark is just ¾" off of his career-best effort.

In addition to Perrier and Jones II, the Cougars' 4x400 relay team is also a national leader after its showing on Saturday. Tyler Howard, Dominic Gonzalez-Shelmire, Leroy Kwateh, and Daniel Bessolo combined for a winning time of 3:12.37. 

In addition to his part of the 4x400 relay, Bessolo also turned in an individual provisional time, as he ran a 400 time of 47.61, which is a season best and moves up to No. 5 on the national list. 

In his first steeplechase race of the season, Nixon Korir ran his way into a No. 3 national ranking for the event, as he put up a time of 9:03.31 to win the race. Korir was an All-American in the steeple last season, placing seventh at Nationals.

WOMEN

Fresh off of a fourth-place finish at Indoor Nationals, the women's team got back to business outdoors, with the Cougars turning in seven provisional performances on Saturday.  

Jaylah Walker ran the 400 hurdles for the first time this season, and the 2021 National Champion in the event wasted no time claiming the top spot on the national list, as she crossed the line at 59.52 seconds. 

Esther Conde-Turpin ran the 100 hurdles for the first time in her Cougar career, and she made quite the first impression, as she put up a time of 13.60 seconds, which ranks her No. 1 nationally, and third in all-time in Azusa Pacific history.

Alayna Verner also had an individual provisional performance on the track, as she raced in the 200 and ran a lifetime best time of 24.29 seconds. Her career-best effort moves her into seventh nationally for the event.

Walker and Verner were also a part of the Cougars' 4x100 relay team on Saturday, as Trinity Miller, Kiayra Holmes, Verner and Walker combined for a time of 46.05 seconds, which ranks them third nationally.

Hannah Richardson achieved a massive personal record in the shot put, as she won the event with a mark of 14.36m (47' ½"). Richardson's performance ranks her second in the nation for the event, and she moved into fourth all-time in Azusa Pacific history. 

In the javelin, Azusa Pacific now has two athletes ranked top-five nationally, as Molly Olson and Alysa Henry achieved provisional status. Olson finished Saturday with a season-best mark of 44.52m (146'), and she is now No. 4 in the country, while Henry turned in a career-best effort of 43.70m (143' 4"), and she is right behind Olson at No. 5 nationally. Olson was a Second Team All-American last spring.

Up Next: Azusa Pacific will send athletes to two different meets next Saturday, March 25, with some headed to the Aztec Invitational in San Diego, while others will compete at the Rossi Relays in Claremont.