SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Fresno Pacific Track and Field headed down to San Diego for this year's PacWest Conference Championships hosted by Point Loma Nazarene University. The Sunbird men jumped to an impressive lead in the first day of competition, bounding ahead with 94 team points.

On Thursday in Chula Vista, the Sunbirds kicked the tournament off with impressive showings in the hammer throw. Chavez Grey was runner-up with a mark of 51.38m and William Jenkins was third with his 50.31 mark. On the women's side, Brooklyn Epperley placed third overall, throwing 46.52m. She would go on to place sixth in the discus throw the following day (45.63).

The Sunbirds were relentless on Friday, naming four PacWest champions amongst their ranks. Grey made his return on his second day of competition by winning the men's discus with a mark of 53.61. Freshmen all-star Tevž Podlipnik soared ahead in the javelin with his 68.05m throw. Fellow teammate and PacWest meet record holder, Dejan Mileusnic followed in third (64.30m). Sunbird freshman Micah Vossler leaped to victory in the long jump (7.17m) with Aamir Smith nipping at his heels in second-place (7.08m).

Recent USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week, Shane Bagley, amazed yet again in the pole vault, winning the event with his 5.00m mark (16' 4.75). It was only a couple inches away from breaking the 13-year long PacWest meet record. First-day Decathlon leader, Jackson Paramo, finished second alongside Bagley (4.70m) and collected a total of 3412 points in the decathlon standings. Clara Wagner was third in the heptathlon standings, recording 2892 points thus far. She also came in sixth in the women's long jump (5.46m), adding more points to the women's board.

In distance, Daniel Galvez took on the Steeplechase, clinching a fourth-place finish with a time of 9:42.57. Julissa Avila, lead distance runner for the Lady 'Birds, came in fifth in the 10,000 meters run (37:19.42), while Rodney Chemalmal placed third for the Sunbird men (32:06.05).

The Fresno Pacific men's team leads the conference championships with 94 team points, while Concordia sits far off in second-place with 69 points. The women's team is fifth overall with 20 points, hoping to move their way up on the final day of competition.

More races and events will occur on Saturday, including the remaining components of the decathlon and heptathlon.

To view the PacWest Championships Live Results, CLICK HERE.

For the PacWest Tournament Central, CLICK HERE.
 

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