AZUSA, Calif. -- The final chance for the Vanguard track and field athletes to make the NAIA National Championships took place Friday and Saturday on the campus of Azusa Pacific University.  While it was a small group, some big moves were made, highlighted by the women's 4x800m relay team, which blazed its way to an NAIA B Standard and a school-record time of 9:26.65.
 
The relay squad was made up of Penelopi Leach, Karla Sanchez-Ruiz, Jessina Morales, and Kate Baranski and ran unopposed on the track, knowing that they needed to beat the B Standard mark of 9:29.00 to book a trip to Indiana.  The quartet did just that just by over two seconds while also moving the school record down by almost one full second, with the previous time being 9:27.42 set in 2014. 
 
Another school record fell out on the field, as Jaelah Butler threw the shot put 12.70m, as her 41-08.00 hurl beat out the 41-04.25" distance put up by Lydia Perrigo in 2017.  Butler also finished ninth in the hammer throw and fifth in the discus.
 
Elsewhere on the women's side, Elizabeth Betten placed 11th in the 400m event with a 57.66 and Jordyn Burke collected an 11th place result in the 400m hurdles, putting down a time of 1:01.80.
 
On the men's side, Evan Hernandez finished 51st in the 5,000m race but set a new personal-best time of 14:55.24.  Blake Rodriguez placed sixth in the javelin with a 150-10 toss (45.97m) and the men's 4x100m relay finished sixth in a time of 41.92.
 
What was Said?  "We were excited to add the women's 4x8 squad to our national qualifying group," said Head Coach Bryan Wilkins.  "I am very grateful they had this last opportunity.  We'll be taking the largest group of athletes to nationals in school history this year.  We're also very proud of Jaelah for finishing strong today with her third school record of the season!  She has had a remarkable season."
 
What's Next?  The qualifying group will head out to Marion, Indiana, for the 71st NAIA Outdoor Championship over May 24-26.