AZUSA, Calif. - The third and final day of the Bryan Clay Invitational was held on Saturday, as thousands of athletes competed in the Cougar Athletic Stadium in front of a packed house. The host Azusa Pacific made the most of the opportunity to compete amongst a field of elite athletes, as several Cougars either achieved or improved on their provisional status, while also climbing up the national rankings in several events.

WOMEN

Saturday yielded seven provisional performances for the women's team, including six that rank within the top 10-nationally. 

In the high jump, Eliana Saunders leaped her way to the top spot on the national list, as her career-best clearance of 1.75m (5' 8 ¾") on Saturday matches the best mark in the nation this season and it won her the event. Saunders, who was an indoor high jump All-American this season, has been improving her mark at each outdoor meet so far this season. 

Jaylah Walker, the 2021 national champion in the 400 hurdles, entered this weekend as the national leader in the event with a time of 59.52, and on Saturday, she posted a new season-best time of 58.15 to place second in the invite section. In addition to the 400 hurdles, she also set a new season-best in the 100 hurdles, crossing the line at 13.74 seconds, which ranks her fifth in the nation.

In the 400 meters, Alayna Verner set a new personal-record time of 53.86 seconds, which is the seventh-fastest race in the country this season. 

Luisa Fischer became the fourth Cougar this season to achieve provisional status in the javelin, as she reached a season-best distance of 44.37m (145' 7") to take second at the Bryan Clay. Fischer's mark moves her into a tie for ninth, and she joins teammates Molly Olson (No. 4), Esther Conde-Turpin (No. 13) and Alysa Henry (No. 14) in the top-16 for the event.

In the prestigious and deep 1500 invite, Eline Pinter had herself a strong showing, running a season-best time of 4:29.46, which earns her provisional standing and moves her up to No. 12 on the national list for the event. 

In addition to the individual provisional performances, the Cougars' 4x100 relay team of Trinity Miller, Kiayra Holmes, Verner and Walker teamed up for one of the fastest showings in the nation this season, as they crossed the line at 45.65 seconds, which ranks them fourth in the country. 

In the 4x400 relay, the same four ran another provisional time, as they combined for a time of 3:42.46, which is the eighth-fastest relay in the country.

MEN

Entering the weekend, Jermel Jones II was ranked third in the nation for the long jump, and by the time he was done competing on Saturday, he moved to the top of the national rankings with a leap of 7.85m (25' 9 ¼") that earned him second place amongst a deep field of competitors at the Bryan Clay. The mark is a new career-best for Jones II, who was the 2022 indoor long jump national champion and a two-time outdoor long jump All-American. 

After setting a new PR in the 800 yesterday, Ben Sumner had another career-best day on Saturday, this time in the 1500. Sumner ran a lifetime-best of 3:45.62 in the 1500, which ranks him sixth nationally in the event.

In the 400 hurdles, Leroy Kwateh raced his way into provisional status, as he ran a personal-best time of 53.21 seconds. 

Up Next: The PacWest Track & Field Championships are up next for the Cougars, with both the men's and women's teams in pursuit of their seventh-consecutive team titles. The Championships will be held in Azusa on April 28 (Friday) and April 29 (Saturday). Stay tuned to ThePacWest.com for more information regarding the Championships.