RESULTS

PUEBLO, Colo.-Spread across five events, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds Track & Field team made some noise at the opening day of the 2023 NCAA Division II National Championships Thursday at Colorado State Pueblo.

The events that the Sunbirds competed in had them seeded around the middle and latter half of the packs with the competition drawing out the best on the national stage.

"The quality of competition is so high this year," Fresno Pacific head coach Ray Winter said. "And making it to Nationals has never been a harder or more honored achievement than this season.

The Sunbirds' day started with a final as Jesse Franco competed in the hammer throw. Franco was the last competitor in the opening flight and showed a ton of power in all three of his attempts.

His second attempt of 59.10 wound up landing 16^th place in all of NCAA DII for 2023.

Shortly after, the women's 4 x 100 relay hit the track and flew through the second and final heat of the day, finishing 2^nd to break through for an automatic qualifier into Saturday's final.

The quartet of Aubrianna Smith, Madison Flores, Ariana Vera, and Zara Anthony delivered the 2^nd fastest time in Fresno Pacific history with a time of 44.99.

Vera and Flores returned to the track less than an hour later to compete in the 400 meters and finished 18^th and 13^th, respectively in a very loaded field.

The 'Birds were also represented in the men's 100 meter dash, with Isaac Davis taking 20^th in the country after his race in the 2^nd heat.

Kalobe Jimenez battled through injury to race in the 400 meter hurdles, the final Sunbird athlete to perform on the opening day.

"We had individuals set school records and still just miss out on qualifying for Nationals." Winter added. "So this is a special group and we are so proud of their grind this season and today. We didn't get any individuals to move on to finals on the track but the relays are looking as good as ever and Dejan Mileusnic is ready to chase his own title in the javelin on Saturday."

The 4 x 400 relay team is the final Sunbird group yet to compete in the prelims. Vera and Flores will be joined by Brianna Green and Iyanna Fuller Friday night for a chance to qualify for Saturday's final.

FPU already has two firm entries on Saturday, with Mileusnic competing as the top seed in the javelin and the 4 x 100 team's fifth seed ahead of its final.

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