CLAREMONT, Calif. -- In their final preparation before the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the Azusa Pacific men’s and women’s track & field teams put on a sterling performance in the Claremont Classic hosted by Claremont-Mudd Saturday evening.

The 2 Azusa Pacific squads combined for 17 season-best performances, including 11 by the Cougar women, an encouraging sign for a team that is 2 weeks away from defending its national championship.

All-American junior Niema Golphin led the way for the Cougar women by winning the 200 meters with a personal-best and NAIA-leading 24.33, a meet record and the third-fastest time in Azusa Pacific history. Golphin had a legal wind of +1.1 which allowed her to claim a Burns Track & Field Complex record as well.

Meanwhile, NAIA champion Vivian Chukwuemeka is trying to get back into her World Class form after a sub-par 2004 season to date. She took another step in that direction by winning the both the discus (177’ 3”) and the shot (57’ 0 ¾”) with season-best efforts.

Thought they didn’t win their events, junior Brianna Carstensen and freshman Sarah Jackson nonetheless posted some impressive marks in their specialties. Carstensen ran a personal-record 2:11.24 in the 800 meters, while Jackson clocked an all-time best 14.46 in the 100-meter hurdles. Both ladies, who finished fourth in their events, were still the top finishing collegians in their events and like Golphin and Chukwuemeka move to the forefront among the event favorites for the NAIA meet.

On the men’s side, junior Mike Mitchell won the long jump with an outdoor season best leap of 25’ 2 ½”. Mitchell, who already has qualified for the NAIA Championships with nation-leading times in the 100 and 200, added the 400 to his checklist with a 47.68 in Claremont.

Freshman Matt Sparks was the top collegian in the 110-meter high hurdles (third overall) with a personal-record 14.69 while fellow rookie Cameron Tucker clocked his own best as well with his first-ever sub-15, a 14.94.

Azusa Pacific takes next week off and then heads to Louisville, Ky., for the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The Cougar women will be gunning for their fourth straight NAIA title (2 indoor and 1 outdoor) while the men are in position to capture their 17th NAIA championship (14th outdoor).