PUEBLO, Colo.-Thursday afternoon the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds track and field team will kick off the 2023 NCAA DII National Championships in search of more success on the highest stage.

In all, Sunbirds will participate in five different events on Thursday with seven different student-athletes competing on the opening day.

The three-day event begins at Colorado State University at Pueblo and FPU has a participant in one of the event's first final as Jesse Franco will compete in the hammer throw at 3:30 p.m. (MDT)/ 2:30 p.m. (PDT).

Franco is in the first flight after qualifying with a mark of 60.19 at the APU Franson Last Chance Meet two just ten days ago. Franco's mark pushed him up a few spots just weeks after he broke the school record in the event at the same venue while simultaneously capturing the PacWest Championship in the hammer.

Franco has grown throughout the season, bettering his career mark four different times since the beginning of March. The junior has broken 60 meters on two separate occasions.

It will be a tough field in the hammer with the top seed approaching 66 meters on the season. Franco will need to advance through the first flight for a crack at All-American honors and the final nine.

After that final, the Sunbirds' 4 x 100 women's relay team will take part in the prelims at 4:50 p.m. (MDT)/3:50 p.m. (PDT).

Aubrianna Smith, Zara Anthony, Ariana Vera and Madison Flores look to build on their seed time of 45.27, the 7^th fastest time in DII this season. FPU will be in lane 6 during the 2^nd heat while trying to qualify for Saturday's final.

Vera and Flores will turn around for the 400 meter race less than an hour later. Vera will be in lane 2 during the second heat while Flores will be in lane 4 of the third heat. Vera is ranked 5^th in the nation for the event while Flores, a three-time All-American, is 13^th entering Thursday's race.

Isaac Davis will compete in the 100 meter dash prelims, lining up in the 2^nd heat. The event begins at 6:25 p.m. (MDT)/5:25 p.m. (PDT) Davis' 10.29 this season is 15^th in the event against a crowded field that could set a new meet record based on previous seed times.

Kalobe Jimenez is the final Sunbird in competition on Thursday night as he takes part in the prelims of the 400 meter hurdles at 7:55 p.m. (MDT)/6:55 p.m. (PDT). Jimenez will be in lane 7 during the first of three heats. Jimenez' best time this season came at the Oxy Invitational at the beginning of the month and has him 15^th entering the National Championships.

The 'Birds will have a mostly relaxing Friday with just the 4 x 400 women's relay team competing in the prelims at 7:50 p.m. (MDT)/ 6:50 p.m. (PDT). Vera and Flores will be joined by Brianna Green and Iyanna Fuller after posting a 3:40 together at the PacWest Championships.

Only Flores returns from the team that is the defending National Champions in the event, but this group is ranked 5^th and has shaved off 12 seconds off its time since the beginning of the year.

Saturday afternoon the top javelin thrower in Division II will look to add more to his incredible season as Dejan Mileusnic  competes in the final at 2:45 p.m. (MDT)/1:45 p.m. (PDT).

Mileusnic is ranked first in the country in the event and has already broken the FPU and PacWest records among many other bests that he cruised past throughout the season. Mileusnic will face his stiffest competition of the season with four others joining the Bosnian over the 70 meter mark this season.

The rest of Saturday will depend on final qualifications over the first two days.

Fresno Pacific's contingent of 10 Sunbirds in Pueblo are ready to make a mark at the national level.  
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