LOUISVILLE, Ky. –- A massive thunderstorm and the accompanying tornado warning were the only things to get in the way of the Azusa Pacific women’s track & field team during the opening day of the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Cardinal Park on the campus of the University of Louisville.

The reigning national champion, Azusa Pacific was just getting its engines at full throttle when the championship games committee shut down the day’s remaining 4 events because of thunder, lightening and a heavy downpour.

Before the rains came, though, the Cougar women jetted out to a 24-12 lead over second-place Minot State (N.D.) through 2 finals completed on Thursday.

Redshirt freshman Renee Eckley provided some personal thunder when she posted an upset victory in the javelin throw with a toss of 149’ 2”, a 6-foot personal best and the third best throw in Azusa Pacific history. She edged pre-meet favorite LeeAnn Pekovitch of Minot State, who had a mark of 147’ 9” some 15 feet under her personal best. Eckley trailed Pekovitch through the first 4 throws, took the lead on her fifth attempt, and then had to watch Pekovitch misfire on her sixth and final throw before she could claim her first-ever NAIA individual title.

“I think the wind really played on the minds of a lot of the throwers,” said Eckley, who took advantage of some strong pre-storm winds. “We typically throw into the wind at practice in California and make sure that we get the point down on our releases. It paid off today. Coming in, I thought if all went right I might win, and I have to say that I’m really excited to win.”

The Cougars garnered another 14 points in a tight and dramatic hammer throw competition in which less than 4 feet separated the top 3 finishers. All-American Vivian Chukwuemeka and Barbara Sugar finished second and third with throws of 181’ 7” and 179’ 0”, respectively. Simon Fraser’s Jennifer Padriano won the event with a heave of 182’ 6” on her sixth and final throw.

Finals in the women’s long jump and the 10,000 meters, which were scheduled for Thursday, were postponed because of the rain.

Meanwhile, the men were able to complete just one final, the men’s hammer, an event in which Azusa Pacific did not score. Otherwise, the Cougar men accomplished most of what they hope for through numerous preliminaries. They did suffer a setback when junior sprinter Mike Mitchell, who earlier in the day blazed a windy 10.06 in the 100 meters, pulled up in the 200-meter prelims with a cramp that forced him out of the race. Though he is expected to return on Friday for the 100 semifinals and the long jump, the Cougars, nonetheless, will lose 10 points they expected to garner with a Mitchell victory in the 200. The men’s team competition should be to be a tight battle between Azusa Pacific, Dickinson State (N.D.) and Lindenwood (Mo.).

“Losing Mike in the 200 is a big hit for us,” said Cougar men’s coach Kevin Reid. “Yet, we’re not out of the hunt for a team title. We need some people to step up in more significant ways Friday and Saturday.”

Day 2 of the 3-day NAIA Outdoor Championship Meet continues Friday (May 28) at 9 a.m. (EDT) with the resumption of the women’s long jump and men’s javelin, events that were halted in mid-competition because of the rain. Click here for complete day 1 results