AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific began in earnest to sharpen its focus toward a successful defense of its NAIA men’s and women’s indoor track & field championships with its first full indoor meet of the 2004 season. And judging by the early returns, the Cougars are already in mid-season form.

Azusa Pacific registered 16 NAIA indoor championship meet qualifying marks during Saturday’s All-Comer’s Meet at Cougar Stadium, and among the list were all 3 men’s relay teams – the 4x400 (3:29.42), 4x800 (7:53.54), and the distance medley (10:15.36). In fact, led by sophomores Danny Reid, Kevin Lindsey and Peter Franz and junior Brandon Shaw, the Cougars clocked the top 4x800 time in the NAIA this season.

Junior transfer Mike Mitchell soundly established himself as an NAIA title contender with sterling performances in 4 different events. Mitchell recorded the NAIA’s best marks to date this season in the 60 meters (6.90), 200 meters (21.38) and the long jump (23-3½). He then ran a leg on the Cougars’ NAIA-qualifying 4x400.

Cougar freshman Tony Ramirez and sophomore Matt Parish, a transfer from the University of Oregon, wasted little time punching their tickets for the NAIA Indoor Championships. Ramirez, who was one of California’s best prep quartermilers last year at Royal High School in Simi Valley, has already made quite a splash by winning his first-ever 400 meters on the college level with a 47.53. Not only is it an NAIA-leading mark, it is also a career-best for Ramirez. Parish clocked a 49.52 in his 400.

Junior Niema Golphin led the Cougar women contingent by ripping off a 24.77 in the 200 meters, easily the top time in the NAIA this year and just shy of her career-best 24.60. She then anchored the Cougars’ 4x400 to an NAIA-leading 3:50.73.

Golphin got some assistance in the 4x400 from Cougar rookie Loraine Swabby, who later in the meet went on to qualify in the 600 meters with a 1:38.65, finishing second behind teammate Tamara Jones, who ran a 1:38.22.

In the distances, All-Americans Christine Krause and Marissa Reeber each qualified in the mile with a 5:09.75 and 5:09.90, respectively.

Azusa Pacific heads to Flagstaff, Ariz., on Saturday (Feb. 7) for the Mountain T Invitational at Northern Arizona University.