SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific graduate Bryan Clay stunned just about everyone at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials this past weekend in Sacramento, Calif., as he posted a trio of decathlon personal bests to accumulate a personal-record 8,660 points in winning the decathlon and earning a spot on the 2004 United State Olympic Team for the upcoming Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Clay becomes the fourth Cougar to win a national championship joining Mike Barnett (javelin – 1989-91), Dave Johnson (decathlon - 1986-89-90-92) and Mary Sauer (pole vault – 2002 indoor).

The 5-11, 174-pound Clay posted decathlon bests in the discus (170 feet, 11 inches), pole vault (16-8¾) and javelin (224-3) en route to his 8,660 points, 178 more than his previous top score. Defending Olympic Trials and world outdoor champion Tom Pappas, the pre-trials favorite was second with 8,517 points to also earn a berth to Athens.

The 2004 world indoor silver medalist in the heptathlon, Clay trailed Pappas by just 3 points entering Saturday's second day of competition. Clay and Pappas ran identical times of 14.23 seconds in the day's first event, the 110-meter hurdles. Clay then moved 7 points past Pappas by throwing the discus 52.10m/170-11, while Pappas threw 46.80m/153-6.

Clay extended his lead after the pole vault, clearing 5.10m/16-8.75 to Pappas' 5.00m/16-4.75, giving him a lead of 7,271 points to Pappas' 7,133 after 8 events. Clay pulled even further ahead with a personal best javelin throw of 68.36m/224-3, totaling 8,125 points entering the final event, the 1,500 meters. Pappas trailed after a throw of 60.75m/199-4, with 7,882 points, all but ensuring Clay would win. Pappas closed the gap after the 1,500 meters, running 4:47.38 to Clay's 5:06.18, but Clay had put too much distance on Pappas over the course of the competition.

"I'm happy with my score; it was a big PR for me,” said Clay. “I think there were a lot more points left out there. If you look at my indoor score that alone should tell you I'm a contender. I think I'm going to give Tom (Pappas) and Roman (Sebrle) a run for their money, but any athlete in the Trials will tell you that making the team is the most important thing.”

With his win, Clay becomes the first Azusa Pacific athlete to represent the United States at the Olympics since Dave Johnson in 1992.

To read the Associated Press story on ESPN.com on Clay’s weekend, click here

In other Olympic Trials action around the world, former Cougar Stephanie McCann (1999-2000) also qualified for Athens in the pole vault for Canada. She finished third at the recent Canadian Olympic Trials clearing 4.0 meters and has an Olympic qualifying standard assuring her of a spot on the Canadian Olympic Team.

In addition to Clay and McCann, former Cougar football standout and track star and current NAIA-record holder in the 110-meter hurdles Dominique Degrammont will run the 400-meter hurdles for Haiti.

On the junior circuit, current Cougar Tony Ramirez ran in the preliminaries on the United States’ 4x400-meter relay that eventually won the gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Grossetto, Italy. Although he did not compete in the finals, Ramirez will still receive a gold medal.

To read a recent story on Clay and McCann in APU Life, click here. For more information of Bryan Clay and how you can support his efforts in Athens, go to his personal website at www.bryanclay.com.