CLAREMONT, Calif. – Azusa Pacific track & field is all tuned up and ready to go – to Johnson City, Tenn., that is, for the 2003 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships.

In their final tune-up before the national championship meet, the Cougar men and women enjoyed a fine day of performances at the Rossi Relays on the campus of Claremont-McKenna College Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars recorded 17 seasonal best marks today in Claremont, including a few career bests along the way. Throwers Vivian Chukwuemeka and Vanessa Wilhelm highlighted the efforts with identical monster throws in the 20-pound weight. The pair each broke the school record in the weight throw, tying for the victory in the event with a heave of 58-5¾, easily the top mark in the NAIA this season.

Chukwuemeka and Wilhelm didn’t stop with the weight either, as each posted season bests in the shot put as well. Chuckwuemeka, a 4-time NAIA All-American, won the event with a put of 58-7½ while Wilhelm was third with a personal-best 46-7½. Teammate Julie Roberts eclipsed the 40-foot mark for the first time ever, firing the shot 40-1¼ to finish sixth and meet the provisional qualifying mark for the NAIA meet.

On the track, Brianna Carstensen and Christine Krause continued their amazing indoor season and the climb to the top as 2 of the NAIA’s best distance runners this year. The sophomore Carstensen, who has already qualified for the NAIA Indoor Championships in 3 open events, added a fourth by winning her first 3000 of the season with a sizzling 10:01.41. Likewise Krause was running her first 3000 of the season and clocked a 10:09.51 to finish second and qualify for her third NAIA championship event.

For the third consecutive meet, sophomore Tim Ramirez blazed another personal best and at the same put his name among the top 3 in the NAIA in a respective meet. At Claremont, Ramirez ran a 8:43.25 to finish second in the 3000 and qualify for his fourth NAIA Indoor Championship event.

With the opportunity to emerge from the shadow of former Cougar great Bryan Clay, senior Mike Cory stepped into the forefront and recorded the NAIA’s second best mark in the long jump with a 23-11¾.

Led by Micah Strom the Cougar 4x400 and distance medley relays improved on their status for the upcoming NAIA meet by recording a 3:17.74 and a 10:14.92, respectively in those events.

The Cougars take next week off to rest for the NAIA Indoor which will be held March 6-8.