JOHNSON CITY, TENN.. –- The table is set, but will the Cougars be able to break bread?

After 2 days of competition, the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Champion is set for an exciting sprint to the finish, and Azusa Pacific is in the mix to grab the men’s championship. So too, are approximately 3 other teams, thus making the fight to the finish an intense one.

Azusa Pacific, which has won 4 previous NAIA indoor titles since 1996, is currently in second place after 6 events. Dickinson State (N.D.) sits atop the leader board with 36 points followed by Azusa Pacific with 16. On the horizon lurks 2-time defending champion Lindenwood (Mo.) and cross country power Virginia Intermont.

Fourteen event finals are on the Saturday’s slate, thus there are a lot of points on the table, there for the grabbing.

“We’ve had some bumps the first 2 days, but we’re still in position to win,” said Cougar coach Kevin Reid, “However, other teams are there as well. We have lots of big points still available, it’s just the secondary points that will determine the meet and perhaps hurt us in the end.”

In terms of big points, Reid was referring to senior Tim Ramirez in the 1000 meters and his younger brother, junior Tony Ramirez in the 400. The brothers advanced to their respective event finals with strong showings during today’s preliminaries. Seniors Matt Parish and Danny Reid looked strong as well in the 600- and 800-meters prelims, respectively, and are expected to push for individual crowns.

The Cougars were dealt a blow when their favored 4x400-meter relay was disqualified during Thursday’s preliminaries. Matt Sparks was cited for running out of his lane on the opening leg. The Cougars went on to post a time 2 seconds better than any other quartet but they were dropped from Saturday’s finals for the miscue. Reid protested the disqualification but to no avail.

“That hurt us,” said Reid. “We were looking at least at 8 points if not 10 in the 4x400. However, Lindenwood was disqualified too and other schools have experienced some knocks along the way like we have.”

The Cougars garnered their 16 points in 2 events. Senior Brian Bernard successfully defended his title in the pentathlon, winning the 5-eventer for the second straight year with a career-best 3,774 points. The 4x800-meter relay then took a third with a 7:34.03, the third fastest time in school history.

The Cougar women are currently in seventh place with 11 points. Missouri Baptist is out in front with 34 points.

All-American Barbara Sugar won the 20-pound weight throw with a career-best heave of 59’ 8 ¼”, more than 2 feet ahead of her nearest competitor. Junior Morgan Altizer tallied the Cougars’ other point with a sixth-place finish in the heptathlon with 3,273 points.

Click here to view live updates from Saturday’s championship competition.