Staphon Arnold
THIS YEAR: A key figure in Azusa Pacific's championship pursuits, 3-time NAIA All-American Staphon Arnold is one of the top high jumpers in the NAIA ... Has the potential to become only the fourth Cougar ever to clear 7 feet ... Should benefit from having a jump specific coach on the Cougar staff, his father Brian Arnold ... Will also run a leg on the Cougars' resurging 4x400-meter relay that should qualify for the NAIA indoors and outdoors.
2008 (sophomore): Played an unsuspecting yet pivotal role in Azusa Pacific capturing the NAIA indoor championship by the narrowest of margins in meet history ... Collected a pair of All-America honors and none was bigger than his fourth-place finish in the high jump (6' 6¾), in which he tied with 3 other athletes, thus earning 1¾ point (the Cougars won the title by 3/4 of a point) ... Garnered his other All-American honor by running the third led on the Cougar 4x400 relay that finished sixth (3:18.54) ... Qualified for the NAIA outdoor meet in the high jump but did not advance to the finals with a leap of 6' 7" ... At the GSAC Championships in Azusa, won his first ever conference titles by taking the high jump (6' 8") and finished second in both the 200- (22.10) and 400- (49.17) meters.
2007 (freshman): Put together a fine 2007 freshman season in which he garnered his first All-America honor with a sixth place finish in the high jump (6' 8 3/4") at the NAIA Indoor Championships ... Qualified for the NAIA Outdoor Championships in the high jump but did not advance to the finals ... Cleared a career-best 6' 9 1/4" in opening outdoor meet at Point Loma Nazarene, posting the seventh best high jump in Azusa Pacific history ... At the GSAC Championships in Fresno, finished second in the 200 and third in the high jump.
HIGH SCHOOL: Competed 3 seasons of track & field for head coach David Furman at Colony High in Ontario, Calif. ... As a 2006 senior, was the state runner-up in the high jump, clearing 6' 9" ... Was the CIF Southern Section Division II high jump champion (6-7) ... As a 2004 sophomore advanced to the CIF high jump finals.
PERSONAL: Born July 2, 1988, in Pasadena, Calif. ... Parents are Brian and Monique Arnold, both Azusa Pacific graduates ... Has 2 brothers (Devin, Domonique) and 2 sisters (Mercedes, Martianna) ... His father was a 2-time NAIA champion and 11-time All-American at Azusa Pacific from 1984 to 1988, establishing a reputation as the finest 400-meter hurdler in program history ... He was also a member of 4 NAIA outdoor national championship teams ... Staphon has not declared a major ... Plays the guitar and draws.
