AZUSA, Calif. -- Over the past 25 years, Azusa Pacific has accomplished any and everything the that sport of track & field has to offer on the collegiate level. Cougar track & field is the winningest program in NAIA history, capturing an unprecedented 20 team titles (17 men, 3 women) since 1983. Cougar athletes have set 23 NAIA records, most of which still stand, and have won 191 event championships, the most in NAIA history. Indeed, NAIA track & field is synonymous with Azusa Pacific

There is, however, one feat in track & field history that has eluded every school, even Azusa Pacific. Yet, the Cougars stand on the threshold of a momentous milestone that could be reached this weekend in Louisville, Ky., at the 53rd Annual NAIA Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

No school has ever swept all 4 NAIA track & field team titles in the same season. There have been those who have won 3 titles, but never all 4 crowns awarded to the men’s indoor and outdoor champions and the women’s indoor and outdoor champions. Azusa Pacific could be the first. The Cougars captured the 2004 NAIA indoor championships in the men’s and women’s division back in March. The Cougar women ran away from the field to win their second straight indoor championship by 30 points over second-place Simon Fraser (B.C.). Meanwhile, the Cougar men surprised even themselves by successfully defending their indoor championship with a hefty 28-point victory over Lindenwood (Mo.).

Now they are poised to sweep the outdoor championships this weekend when the 3-day NAIA Track & Field Championship Meet opens Thursday (May 27) at Cardinal Park on the campus of the University of Louisville. Azusa Pacific is the favorite to win another women’s championship, the men, however, will be a stiff battle with at least 2 other schools. All the competition begins early Thursday morning and concludes Saturday evening with the team championships.

Led by fifth-year coach Mike Barnett, the Cougar women head to Louisville with a balanced attack that should provide points for Azusa Pacific in the sprints, distances, relays, hurdles, and throws.

In the sprints, junior Niema Golphin carries the Cougars torch rather noticeably. She owns the NAIA’s top time this year in the 400 meters (53.55) and should be a finalist in the 200 (24.23). Additionally, she anchors the Cougars’ 4x400 (3:50.14) which is expected to battle Huston-Tillotson (Texas) and Oklahoma Baptist for the title.

Distance runners Brianna Carstensen and Christine Krause, who have combined for more than 20 All-Americans over the past 3 years, look to add to those totals, Carstensen in the 1500 meters (4:28.08) where she has the NAIA’s second best time this year and Krause in the steeplechase (11:07.44) in which she holds the school record.

In NAIA history there has never been a better thrower than junior Vivian Chukwuemeka, who has already garnered a school-record 9 individual championships in her collegiate career. Last year’s NAIA outdoor meet Most Outstanding Performer, Chukwuemeka, who owns 4 NAIA throw records, is a heavy favorite to win the shot, discus and hammer, a 3-way feat that has never before been done.

Sophomore Lorraine Swaby was the California junior college state champion in the 400 hurdles last year while running for West Valley Community College in Saratoga, Calif. This weekend she looks to expand her horizon by becoming a national champion in the 400 hurdles. She heads into the NAIA meet with a nation-leading and school-record time of 60.15.

The Cougars won last year’s NAIA outdoor championship with 86 points. They are on par to equal that task and perhaps break 90 points if all goes as planned.

The Cougar men, on the other hand, are hopping to tap out at 70 points, 40 of which could come from the feet of junior Mike Mitchell, a sprint-jump specialist who staged one of the most dominating performances in NAIA history at the indoor championship meet in Johnson City, Tenn., in March. There Mitchell set national records in the 200 meters, 4x400-meter relay and the long jump. This weekend in Louisville, he’ll be gunning for NAIA outdoor records in the 100 (10.29), 200 (20.67), 4x400 (3:09.60) and long jump (25’ 2 ½’).

Junior Brandon Shaw, who like Mitchell competed at national junior college power Mt. SAC before coming to Azusa Pacific this year, holds the NAIA’s top mark this year in the 800 meters (1:48.98) with a school-record setting effort.

Freshman Tony Ramirez concludes a dazzling rookie campaign as one of the pre-meet favorites to win the men’s 400 meters. In a program that has featured some of the best quarter-milers in NAIA history, Ramirez has wasted little time etching his name among Azusa Pacific’s elite, clocking a 47.03 last month that is the fourth best in program history.

Azusa Pacific men’s head coach Kevin Reid, who is in his ninth year at the Cougar helm, is counting on junior Rob Jarvis (200 and 400 meters), sophomore Danny Reid (1500 meters) and all 3 relays (400, 1600 and 3200 meters) to pick up additional points that puts Azusa Pacific past Lindenwood and Dickenson State (N.D.) in the men’s title race.

For additional meet information, including team rosters, entries, meet schedule and results, go to the NAIA web site.