AZUSA, Calif. –- When she arrived on campus 18 months ago there were whispers that someday she could be next Brianna Carstensen. That’s a rather lofty expectation to place on an 18-year old, considering that Carstensen, a 7-time NAIA champion and the holder of 5 schools records, is the measuring stick by which every Azusa Pacific distance runner is judged. But “someday” has indeed arrived.

In her first 1500-meter race of the year, sophomore Jaime Canterbury broke the school record in rather surprising fashion, clocking a 20-second PR and breaking Carstensen’s 3-year old record in the process. Canterbury ran a 4:27.96 to finish second in the 1500 at the Pomona Invitational and best Carstensen’s former school standard by .12 of a second.

From the opening lap, Canterbury hopped on the shoulder of 9-time All-American and former NCAA champion Alice Schmidt of North Carolina, and ran stride-for-stride with the former Tar Heel, while in the process setting a personal pace like none before.

“To be honest, we’re a little surprised,” said Cougar women’s coach Mike Barnett. “We knew she had been having some great workouts lately, but we didn’t see a 20-second PR and a school record coming this week.”

Canterbury’s previous 1500 best was a 4:47.77 she registered in finishing fifth in last year’s Golden State Athletic Conference championship meet in San Diego. However, the Dana Hills High School product is coming off an outstanding cross country season in which she became just the ninth Cougar ever to earn NAIA All-America recognition in that sport. She was the top Cougar finisher in 5 of the 6 meets Azusa Pacific competed in last fall, which included an 18:20 5K at the national meet in Louisville, Ky., where she finished eighth overall, the fourth-best showing ever by a Cougar harrier.

Canterbury’s effort, which was best among all collegians at the Pomona Invitational and nearly 10 seconds ahead of her nearest collegiate competitor, not only qualifies her for the NAIA Outdoor Championship Meet but it also catapults her to the front of the NAIA performance list with the best 1500 race of the season.

Canterbury’s run led a contingent of Cougars who also were making their 1500 debut of the year and posted personal bests in the process. Fellow cross country All-American Whitney Jacobsmeyer clocked a PR of 4:45.33, the 11th best 1500 in school history. Sophomore Jenny Landis posted a 2-second PR at 4:57.84. Junior Olivia Richert didn’t quite match her PR, but she did register an excellent time of 4:47.96, less than .2 of a second off her best. Junior Kjersti Housman closed out the Cougar showing in the 1500 by winning her first-ever 1500 run, clocking a 4:53.78 to take the third section of the 4-section event.

While Canterbury’s effort certainly highlighted Azusa Pacific’s showing at the Pomona Invitational, it was not a solo performance. Teammate Zora Golcevska blazed the third fastest 100-meter hurdle race in Azusa Pacific history, winning her heat and finishing third overall with a wind-legal 14.16, a PR by .04 of a second for the Slovakian native who transferred from Santa Monica City College. Only Michelle Campbell (13.40 in 1995) and fellow heptathlete Stephanie McCann (14.14 in 2000) have run faster high-hurdle races as Cougars.

Golcevska is expected to push for the NAIA heptathlon crown at the national championship meet in Fresno in late May, but like Canterbury, after this performance Golcevska becomes a national favorite as well in the high hurdles.

In other Pomona Invitational results, All-American Lorraine Swaby was second in the 400-meter hurdles with a season-best 61.92, trailing only former Olympian Shevon Stoddart (59.74).

In the throws junior Ruth Wilhelm recorded an outdoor PR in the shot put (43’ 1”) and threw a season-best 156’ 11” in the hammer.

In the men’s competition at the Pomona Invitational, sprint standout Tony Ramirez made his season-debut in his specialties, the 200- and 400-meters, recording times of 22.18 and an NAIA-qualifying 47.70. Likewise, half-milers Caleb Lynch and Jason Zichterman made their 800 season debuts and both easily qualified for the NAIA championships with times of 1:52.15 and 1:52.72, respectively.

The Cougars won the 4x100-meter relay with the team of Nate Nasca, Kyle Cruse, Darnell Dodson and Tal Mor circling a 41.74 to punch their ticket for the NAIA Outdoor Championships.

In the field events, senior James Ferguson competed in the shot, discus and hammer, recording a season-best in the hammer (174’ 8”) and a personal-best in the discus (159’ 0”).

Azusa Pacific has a busy week of competition ahead. The Cougars host the Mt. SAC Relays/California Invitational Decathlon/Heptathlon Wednesday and Thursday (April 11-12). Then more than 900 athletes are expected to compete in the first-ever Azusa Pacific Invitational Friday (April 13). For good measure, additional Cougars will compete in the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays over the weekend.