FRESNO, Calif. — Azusa Pacific's dynasty remains firmly intact. Behind a powerful team performance across the track and field, the Cougar women secured their ninth consecutive PacWest Track & Field Championship on Saturday in Fresno, closing out a dominant two-day stretch with a string of titles, meet records, and standout efforts.

After a strong opening day on Friday, the Cougars entered Saturday with momentum—and wasted no time adding to it.

The women's shot put final set the tone early, with Azusa Pacific making history by sweeping the top four spots. Hannah Richardson led the charge, breaking her own PacWest meet record with a throw of 16.29 meters, adding another title to her incredible career. Right behind her, Molly Olson, Esther Conde-Turpin, and Luisa Fischer completed the sweep, sending a clear message that the Cougars' depth was unmatched.

Not to be outdone, the Cougar jumpers delivered on the big stage as well. Eliana Saunders defended her PacWest high jump crown, clearing 1.69 meters to repeat as champion. Nouhayla Errahili joined her on the podium, finishing third (1.61m) to add crucial team points. On the men's side, Sid Varland soared to runner-up honors in the high jump at 2.00 meters, giving the Cougar men a major boost in the standings.

In the throws, APU continued to rack up points. Molly Olson added a third-place finish in the women's discus (43.08m), while Brett Olson turned in a strong performance for the men with a third-place showing in the discus (50.98m) and a podium finish in the shot put (15.30m).

In the women's heptathlon, Ashley Hume capped her weekend with a third-place finish (4632 points), adding even more depth to the Cougars' championship tally.

Relays Set the Stage for a Big Afternoon

The energy only picked up on the track. In the first events of the afternoon, both Cougar 4x100-meter relay teams set the tone with silver medal finishes.
The women's team of Ashanti Perkins, Kiayra Holmes, Nevaeh Williams, and Trinity Miller clocked 45.33 seconds to finish second, setting the team up for a huge points day.
The men's team of Dejuan Walcott, Dominic Gonzalez-Shelmire, Sid Varland, and Isaac Shires mirrored the women with a second-place finish of their own (41.28), showing the future is bright for the Cougar sprint corps.

Individual Stars Shine Bright

Saturday's finals saw several Cougars claim individual glory:

• In the women's 100m hurdles, Esther Conde-Turpin captured her second individual title of the weekend with a commanding win, crossing the line in 13.63 seconds.

• Alayna Verner etched her name deeper into APU history by winning her third straight PacWest title in the 400m dash, running 53.79 to hold off a talented field.

• In the men's 400m, Maxime Wassmer came through with a clutch runner-up finish (46.81), setting himself up for a key anchor role later in the day.

• Trinity Miller continued her strong championship showing, earning third in the women's 100m dash (11.90) and later taking third in the 200m (24.11).

• In the women's 800m, Olivia Alexandre showed why she's one of the best mid-distance runners in the nation, outleaning her competition by just two-hundredths of a second to win in 2:07.24, setting a new PacWest meet record.

• Jared Wright delivered a gutsy performance in the men's 5000m, emerging from a crowded field to claim third place with a time of 14:55.45.

Dramatic Finishes in the 4x400 Relays

As the sun set on Fresno Pacific's track, both 4x400-meter relays delivered memorable finishes to close the meet.

The women's team of Holmes, Alexandre, Conde-Turpin, and Verner fought to a second-place finish in 3:43.23, sealing the team title with a powerful final push.

On the men's side, the quartet of Lincoln Krog, Isaac Shires, Max Varland, and Maxime Wassmer staged one of the most thrilling finishes of the day. Trailing by more than 10 meters at the final handoff, Wassmer chased down Fresno Pacific's anchor, storming into second place with a furious kick and clocking a time of 3:12.10—one of the best 4x400 times in program history.

Final Moments and Championship Celebration

As the final event concluded, there was no doubt: Azusa Pacific's women once again stood atop the PacWest, champions for the ninth consecutive season.
With event winners, record breakers, and countless top-three finishes, the Cougars showcased why they remain the gold standard in PacWest Track & Field.