GLENDORA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific’s nationally-renowned track & field program opened the 2006 season in full force with an All-Comers meet at neighboring Citrus College.

Five individuals and 4 relay teams, 2 each from the men’s and women’s programs, punched their ticket to the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships, which will be held in just 5 weeks at the “Mini Dome” on the campus of Eastern Tennessee State in Johnson City, Tenn.

Junior James Ferguson, a transfer from Mt. SAC, led the Cougar men with 2 strong throws which qualified him for the NAIAs in the shot put and 35-pound weight throw. Ferguson heaved the weight 52’ 6¾” to easily meet the NAIA’s A-standard with a top 8 throw in the NAIA this year. He came back to record a put of 51’ 5 ¾” for the third-best shot to date in the NAIA.

All-American senior Brian Bernard cleared 15’ 6 ½” in the pole vault to reach the NAIA qualifying standard while former school-record holder and 2-time NAIA All-American Tony Ramirez easily met the NAIA standard in the 800 meters with a time of 1:56.0.

Older brother Tim Ramirez anchored the Cougars to a victory in the distance medley relay with a 10:07, the top time in the NAIA this season.

Not only do the Cougar men have the NAIA’s top time in the DMR, but they are the nation leaders in the 4x800 and 4x400, adding the mile relay to their collection Saturday with a sterling 3:15.9, nearly a full second better than their nearest competitor. Sprinters Tony Ramirez, Matt Sparks, Caleb Lynch and Matt Parish were near flawless in their single-lap runs.

Meanwhile the Cougar women qualified for the NAIA indoors as well in the distance medley relay and the 4x400-meter relay, recording times of 12:27.2 and 4:01.1, respectively.

Individually, All-American Barbara Sugar went 52’ 3¼” in the 20-pound weight throw. Junior Lorraine Swaby, a 2004 NAIA runner-up in the 400 hurdles, returned to action after a year layoff and clocked a 58.0 to qualify for the NAIA indoor 400.

Azusa Pacific steps up the level of competition this week when, for the second year in a row, the Cougars visit Boise State to compete in the United Heritage Invitational, Friday and Saturday. Over 40 Cougars are traveling to Jackson’s Indoor Track in Nampa, Ida.