RESULTS
AZUSA, Calif.- After starting the PacWest Championships with a win behind a historic performance from Jesse Franco, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds Track and Field team concluded it with a storybook win from Xavier Smith to kick off the first day of the PacWest Championships Friday at the Cougar Athletic Stadium.
 
Franco broke a 50 year old FPU record while simultaneously eclipsing the meet record set in the 2017 PacWest Championships.
 
Franco's career-best also vaulted him 20 spots up the national leaderboard to 12^th in the hammer, improving his potential for an NCAA DII qualifier.
 
Bradley backed him up with a personal best in the hammer, taking back second-place points to give FPU the early lead on the men's side.
 
Dejan Mileusnic also broke the meet record in the Javelin, winning the PacWest Championship with a throw of 70.54 in his final attempt.
 
Isaac Davis took third in the long jump thanks to an incredible jump of 7.41m while Jackson Paramo scored points in the pole vault.
 
But the day closed as strong as possible as Xavier Smith closed the 10k with a final lap that was just sixty seconds and a final mile that was sub 4:30 (4:29.5) to win the PacWest Championship in an incredible comeback story for the senior.
 
Smith was joined by Rodney Chemalmal in the event and helped take FPU's day 1 total to 52 points, cemented firmly in 2^nd place after the first six finals.
 
The 'Birds posted solid times in the 200m races with freshman Garrett Fox's  21.07 leading the way for 2^nd in his heat, qualifying for Saturday's final.
 
Fox and Davis also led a strong group of qualifiers for Saturday's 100m dash.
 
Nikki Crouch added a win on the women's side, taking the PacWest crown in the pole vault.
 
Elizabeth Naranjo delivered her personal best at 40.44m and Hope Erwin joined her in adding points in the hammer throw taking 7^th and 8^th place.
 
Maribel Aguilar came through in the steeplechase and finished in fourth place.
 
In the 10k, Yorkabel Gebrehiwot came in 7^th while Aryanna Guzman ran a solid race, finishing 9^th after a personal best performance.
 
After the first six events on the women's side, FPU sits in 6^th place but had many qualifiers for Saturday's finals.
 
Fresno Pacific will look to add to a weekend that already has included many incredible performances when the final day of the PacWest Championships take place at Azusa Pacific on Saturday.
 
 
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