AZUSA, Calif. - The APU Franson Last Chance meet provided one final opportunity for athletes to improve their times and marks in order to make the field of competitors for Nationals, and Azusa Pacific had some athletes achieve top-10 marks on Saturday.

On the track, several Cougars made the most of their opportunities on Saturday. In the women's 400 hurdles, Jaylah Walker, the 2021 national champion in the event, not only ran her fastest time of the season at 57.37 seconds, but it also was the fastest race in the nation this season to move her into the No. 1 spot in the national rankings for the event. Over in the men's 400, Dominic Gonzalez-Shelmire, who was a 2022 All-American in the event as a true freshman last spring, turned in his best-ever 400 race this afternoon, running a PR of 46.08. The lifetime-best effort moves him all the way up to No. 4 on the national qualifying list. Running for just the second time this season, Philippine de La Bigne turned in a top-10 time in the women's 1500. de La Bigne crossed the finish line at 4:21.45, which puts her in the No. 8 spot in the national rankings. In the same event, Eline Pinter posted a finishing time of 4:24.28, which positions her at No. 16 nationally. 

In the women's 200 meter finals, Alayna Verner set a new PR at 23.74 seconds, which ranks her 20th in the nation for the event. 

Alayna Verner, Kiayra Holmes, Trinity Miller and Walker ran the fifth-best 4x100 time in the country on Saturday, as they combined for a time of 45.09, which is the second-fastest time in program history. On the men's side in the 4x400, Daniel Bessolo, Sid Varland, Tyler Howard and Gonzalez-Shelmire teamed up for a race of 3:10.15, which ranks them 14th in the nation for the relay.

In the men's decathlon, Makel Hubbard wrapped up two days of competition in the decathlon, and Hubbard finished with a provisional score of 6,871 points, which ranks him No. 16 in the country for the event. Hubbard set five new PR's over the two days, and he had a pair of first place finishes in the long jump (7.04m/23' 1 ¼") and the high jump (2.01m/6' 7"). 

Hannah Richardson won the women's shot put on Saturday, setting a new personal-best with a throw of 14.63m (48'), which she achieved on her sixth and final throw of the competition. Richardson is now ranked No. 16 on the national qualifying list. 

In the men's pole vault, Joey Rauwerda achieved a lifetime-best clearance, vaulting a height of 5.07m (16' 7 ½"), which he did on his third and final chance at the height. Rauwerda's clearance ranks him in the No. 12 nationally.

Up Next: The Cougars will now await the announcement of the official field of qualifiers for Nationals, which will be held May 25-27 in Pueblo, Colo. The field of competitors will be posted online by 3:00 pm this Tuesday, May 16.Generally, 20 athletes are selected to compete in individual events, 16 athletes are chosen for multi's, while 14 relay teams compete, however, the number of competitors is not a certainty and it can be adjusted to include fewer or more athletes. To view the current provisional qualifying lists, click here: WOMEN | MEN