Young elevates to No. 2 in division in 3:37.72, trailing only 3:37.35 effort by Ribich at same meet in 2018; Ramirez Limon takes women’s 10,000, with Sandoval elevating to No. 4 all-time in Division 2 for host Azusa Pacific, which also has Fassold soar to No. 5 pole vaulter in division history at Cougar Stadium

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor/Photos by Chuck Utash

The Bryan Clay Invitational had already showcased one 1,500-meter record by an athlete from Great Britain when New Mexico’s Josh Kerr ran the fastest outdoor time in collegiate history in 2018.

James Young, an Academy of Art graduate student-athlete from England, nearly added another NCAA Division 2 all-time outdoor mark to the list of memorable middle-distance races at Azusa Pacific University with his effort Saturday night at Cougar Stadium.

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With elite American professionals Sydney McLaughlin and Candace Hill not returning after competing in Friday’s prelims, and U.S. sprinter Ameer Webb only racing in the invitational 100-meter dash final, it provided an opportunity for several Division 2 standouts like Young to seize the spotlight Saturday and they took full advantage.

Young clocked 3 minutes, 37.72 seconds, just missing the 2018 division record-setting performance at Bryan Clay achieved by David Ribich of Western Oregon, who ran 3:37.35 to place sixth in the same race as Scottish star Kerr’s all-time effort of 3:35.01.

Young – the reigning Division 2 indoor mile champion with his 4:00.70 performance March 13 at the CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala. – earned his second victory in 15 days at Cougar Stadium, also prevailing in the 5,000 at the Azusa Pacific Invitational in 14:09.50.

Kieran Lumb of the Vancouver Thunderbirds, the leader entering the last lap before Young produced a 55-second split in the final 400, was runner-up in 3:38.21, with Pepperdine’s Karl Winter taking third in 3:40.58.

Mexico’s Andrea Soray Ramirez Limon won the women’s 10,000 meters in a personal-best 32:15.67, improving by more than a minute since her sixth-place finish Feb. 27 at the Trials of Miles Texas Qualifier in Austin, but Azusa Pacific’s Jenny Sandoval achieved a program record by placing second in 32:58.39.

Sandoval, a San Jose State transfer, ascended to the No. 4 all-time Division 2 competitor, improving on her previous-best 33:37.38 at the 2019 Stanford Invitational.

Amanda Fassold, who entered the meet as the Division 2 leader in the women’s pole vault, improved on her program record by clearing 14 feet, 0.75 inches (4.29m) on her third attempt to elevate to the No. 5 outdoor competitor in division history.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s Brooke Tjerrild cleared 13-9 (4.19m) on her first opportunity to finish second.

Clemson graduate Grace Barnett, competing for Mammoth Track Club and ASICS, prevailed in the women’s 1,500 in 4:06.95, holding off a late surge by former Brigham Young athlete Sarah Lancaster (4:07.09), representing Paras360.

Alli Cash of Oiselle Volee’ took third in 4:07.67, with UC Santa Barbara’s Katie Camarena finishing fifth in a program-record 4:13.32. Camarena entered April with a personal-best 4:24.68 and in two races has improved more than 10 seconds, including a 4:17.85 effort April 2 at the Sound Running College Invite.

Academy of Art’s Natalia Novak improved to the No. 2 competitor in Division 2 this season by finishing ninth overall in 4:18.60. She also elevated to the No. 13 outdoor performer in division history.

Hannah Fredericks, a senior at Saugus High in California, finished second in her section and 19th overall in 4:29.66, the No. 4 prep outdoor 1,500 performance in the country this year.

Ivan Dario Gonzalez of Colombia, the gold medalist at the 2018 South American Games, won the men’s 10,000 in 28:37.34. Mauricio Gonzalez of Colombia placed second in 28:56.54 and San Francisco’s Ed Kiolbasa was the top collegiate competitor, clocking 29:46.65 for sixth.

With athletes like Hill and McLaughlin not competing and Webb deciding to scratch the 200, their absences resulted in Brazilian athletes dominating the invitational sprints and hurdles.

Rosangela Santos won the women’s invitational 100 in a wind-aided 11.19, ahead of fellow Brazilian Vitoria Rosa (11.25), who prevailed in the invitational 200 in a wind-legal 22.98. Lorraine Martins, also representing Brazil, was runner-up in 23.70.

Azusa Pacific’s Mechaela Hyacinth took third in the 200 in 23.76 and fourth in the 100 in 11.54.

Tiffani Marinho triumphed in the women’s invitational 400 for Brazil in 52.33.

In Webb’s lone race, the Nike athlete took second in the invitational 100-meter dash in a wind-legal 10.13, being sandwiched in between Brazilian athletes Paulo Andre Camilo (10.12) and Felipe dos Santos (10.14). 

Anderson Henriques was the top performer for Brazil in the invitational 400, winning in 45.90, with Derick Silva adding another victory for the team in the men’s invitational 200 in a wind-aided 20.91.

Brazil’s Gabriel Constantino captured the men’s 110-meter hurdles in a wind-aided 13.56, with UC Davis’ Anthony Easter the top collegiate competitor at 14.35.

Brazil also swept both 4x400 relays, with the men clocking 3:06.95, ahead of Academy of Art at 3:10.38, the No. 2 performance in Division 2 this season.

In the women’s race, Brazil ran 3:39.01, with Fresno Pacific edging Azusa Pacific in a tight battle for second by a 3:44.12 to 3:44.51 margin, the second- and third-fastest times in Division 2 this year.

Evonne Britton prevailed in the women’s invitational 100-meter hurdles in a wind-legal 13.30, ahead of Tawnie Moore (13.50). Concordia’s Paige Johnson was the fastest collegiate athlete in the field in 14.19.

Khalifah Rosser, a former Division 2 national champion in the 400 hurdles at Cal State Los Angeles, secured victory in 49.71.

Azusa Pacific’s Jaylah Walker lowered her own program record to a division-leading 58.16 in the women’s 400 hurdles, improving to the No. 21 competitor in Division 2 history.

Eight-time Canadian national champion Caroline Ehrhardt won the women’s triple jump with a wind-aided effort of 44-10.75 (13.68m) in the fifth round.

Alberto Alvarez of Mexico prevailed in the men’s triple jump with a wind-legal performance of 54-1.75 (16.50m) in the second round.

Argentina’s German Chiaraviglio secured victory in the men’s pole vault with a third-attempt clearance at 18-0.50 (5.50m).

Long Beach State graduate Vincent Calhoun cleared 6-7 (2.01m) on his first try in the men’s high jump, edging Concordia’s Michael Ervin and Azusa Pacific’s Raymon Harper on fewer attempts after they both successfully made the height.

Michigan graduate Claire Kieffer-Wright, who attended high school at nearby South Pasadena, won the women’s high jump with a 5-10.75 (1.80m) clearance. Chinenye Agina of Azusa Pacific equaled the Division 2 lead this year by placing secondn with a 5-9.75 (1.77m) clearance.

In the unseeded track races, American Paralympian Breanna Clark won the women’s 200 in a wind-aided 24.67.

Academy of Art’s Darria Matthias secured victory in the women’s 100 in a wind-aided 11.80, with teammate Camille Jouanno clocking a wind-legal 14.71 to triumph in the women’s 100 hurdles.

Makarios Page added a men’s 400 victory for Academy of Art in 48.22, with teammate Ajani Ince emerging victorious in the men’s 200 in a wind-aided 21.93.

Point Loma Nazarene’s Madelynn Worley improved from her preliminary race to capture the women’s 400 in 57.73.

Biola’s Jahquez Durham won the men’s unseeded 100 in a wind-legal 10.98.