AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific freshman Tony Ramirez finished fifth in the finals of the 400 meters at the U.S. Junior Track & Field Championships this past weekend in College Station, Texas.

Ramirez, who earlier this year ran a 46.91 for the fourth fastest time in Azusa Pacific history, clocked a 47.77 in windy conditions during Saturday’s delayed competition. Lightening strikes near the Texas A&M campus caused 4 delays on Friday, forcing several events, including the men’s 400, to be moved to Saturday. As a result, 3 different sections of the 400 were run with combined times being used to determine the final results.

The youngest of 4 Ramirez children who have all run for Azusa Pacific track & field, Tony was a 4-time NAIA All-American during his 2004 rookie season. He had a hand in 3 NAIA titles, running legs on Azusa Pacific’s 4x400-meter relays that won the NAIA indoor and outdoor championships. Additionally, in his first national collegiate competition, he won the NAIA indoor 400 in March. In May he came back to finish second in the outdoor 400 with that personal best 46.91.

With the showing at the U.S. junior championships, Ramirez has been invited to be a member of the U.S. 400-meter relay pool that will compete at the World Junior Championships in Grosseto, Italy, July 13-18. He becomes the first Cougar to earn a spot on the U.S. junior world team since Tage Peterson qualified for the Junior World Championships in the decathlon as an Azusa Pacific freshman in 1994.

Click here for complete results on the 2004 U.S. Junior Track & Field Championships.