AZUSA, Calif. – Simply put, Azusa Pacific track & field is historic.

No school in the history of the NAIA has fashioned the kind of success adorned by Azusa Pacific in the sport of track & field. Combined, the men’s and women’s programs have captured 20 national championships since 1983. The NAIA record book is chalked full of Cougar athletes, and seemingly every year Azusa Pacific adds to its list of “never before done in NAIA history.”

Once again, Azusa Pacific is on the threshold of history.

Poised for this weekend’s NAIA Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championships in Johnson City, Tenn., the Cougar men and women are looking to team together to do what no other school has ever done before in NAIA history – sweep the men’s and women’s team national titles for a third straight year. It’s a feat that doesn’t require a stretch of the imagination, though 4 years ago it seemed like an impossibility.

Under the direction of 9-year head coach Kevin Reid, the Cougar men are actually gunning for their fourth straight NAIA crown, a feat done only once before in NAIA history by Wayland Baptist, which won 5 straight indoor titles (1985-89). Reid takes a contingent of 14 Cougars to Johnson City, led by a strong set of athletes who are among the favorites to win their respective events, including all 3 relays – 4x400, 4x800 and distance medley.

“We certainly have a chance to win the team title again,” said Reid, who also guided the Cougars to NAIA outdoor titles in 2001 and 2002. “Virginia Intermont and Lindenwood seem to be our primary competitors.”

Virginia Intermont is the defending NAIA cross country champion and brings to Johnson City a wealth of talent in the distances. Lindenwood (Mo.), the reigning outdoor national runner-up, excels in the sprints and jumps,

“We really won’t go head-to-head with either team until we get to the end of the meet,” said Reid. “The final 2 events are the DMR, where it should go 1-2 between us and Virginia Intermont, and the 4x400, where it should go 1-2 between us the Lindenwood. All 3 teams have the potential to score 60 points.”

Junior Danny Reid and freshman Caleb Lynch head into the championship meet with the nation’s leading marks in the 800 and 600, respectively. Reid, a 5-time All-American, has clocked a 1:51.43 in the 800 this year, the third fastest in school history. Lynch has literally come out of nowhere to stake his claim to the top time in the 600 with a 1:19.1 registered in the only race he ran this season, and that came in a heavy dose of rain in the outdoors.

“The 800 is one of the more competitive fields this year and will be more difficult to win,” said Reid, “but Danny can do it. He is having a great season, and he has plenty of experience running on this level.”

Danny Reid will also play a factor in the Cougars’ title defense of the 4x800.

Sophomore Tony Ramirez is the defending national champion in the 400 meters but will have his hands full with Simon Fraser’s Neal Hurtuhise, who has run a 47.83 this year compared to Ramirez’s 48.23. Still Ramirez should give the Cougars plenty of points in the open quarter and then again as the anchor on the Cougars’ defending champion 4x400 relay.

Sophomore Brian Bernard is among the favorites to win the pentathlon but he’ll be in a tight battle. With a season-best point total of 3,512 points, he is one of 5 entrants to eclipse 3,500 this season.

Bernard will also compete in the high jump where if he can reach 6’ 9” as he has in the past, then he would provide bonus points. Matt Parish seems to have recovered from a sprained ankle suffered earlier in the year, but because of the layoff he isn’t in peak shape. If he can advance the 400 finals, then he too will be providing some insurance points for Azusa Pacific.

Meanwhile, the Azusa Pacific women, who have captured 4 straight NAIA national championships (2003 indoor and outdoor, 2004 indoor and outdoor) under the direction of 5-year head coach Mike Barnett, seem to have no peer amongst their competition. Seventeen ladies highlight the Cougar roster, including 3 who own NAIA season-leading marks.

Seniors Brianna Carstensen and Vivian Chukwuemeka have combined for 30 All-American honors and 16 NAIA individual championship over the past 3 years, and this year the 2 are expected to add to their numbers, making them the most prolific teammates ever in NAIA history.

Carstensen heads into the NAIA indoor championship with the nation’s top time in the 3,000, a school-record 9:49.68. She’ll also anchor the Cougars’ NAIA-leading 4x800 and run a leg on a DMR team that has won 2 of the past 3 NAIA titles.

Chukwuemeka, an 11-time NAIA champion in the throws, is seeking to become the first-ever 4-time champ in both the shot put and the 20-pound weight throw. She easily has the season top marks in both events.

Senior Niema Golphin is the defending champion in the 400 and enters with the NAIA’s top time this season (55.95).

Freshman Capree Bell has made an immediate impact on the Cougar fortunes and should vie for a national crown in the pentathlon, where she has scored a season-best 3,318 points, just 36 points behind national leader Katie Kosmos of Doane (Neb.0.

While not necessarily favorites to win their respective events, several Cougar women are expected to advance to the finals and score much-needed points. They include: Morgan Altizer (pentathlon and pole vault), Olivia Richert (1000), Marissa Reeber (1000) and Barbara Sugar (weight throw).

The 2005 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships, which will be held on the campus of East Tennessee State, begin Thursday (March 3) with the men’s and women’s pentathlon at noon (PST). The men’s and women’s meets reach full stride on Friday (March 2) and conclude Saturday (March 3) with the 4x400 relays at 1 p.m. (PST).

Click here to view results as the meet unfolds during the weekend.