March 10, 2007

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) claimed its fifth NAIA men's indoor track and field national title while Oklahoma Baptist University secured its second women's crown at the 2007 SunTrust NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships.

Azusa Pacific brought home the men's title after accumulating 83 total team points. Oklahoma Baptist was second in the men's competition with 62 points and Dickinson State University (N.D.) finished third at 59 points. Three men's NAIA indoor meet records were set on the third and final day of competition as the top four finishers in the men's 1600 meter relay all broke the previous meet record of 3:11.99 in their event, which was set by Dickinson State in 2006. St. Gregory's University (Okla.) won the 1600 meter relay, setting the new NAIA indoor mark with a time of 3:09.40. The other men's record breakers included Matt Sparks, a senior from Azusa Pacific, who broke the men's 60 meter hurdles record in a time of 8:07 and Ramon Miller, a sophomore from Dickinson State, who set a new 400 meter dash mark with a time of 46.95.

The women's team competition came down to the wire as Oklahoma Baptist finished with 52.33 total points, narrowly edging out Wayland Baptist University (Texas) which finished the day with 51 points. Simon Fraser University (B.C.) took third in the women's competition with 48 points. A new women's 600 meter dash mark was set on the afternoon as sophomore Amanda Mayfield of Oklahoma Baptist finished the event in a record-breaking time of 1:32.32.

The Men's Outstanding Meet Performer award went to sophomore Aron Rono of Azusa Pacific while junior Ruky Abdulai of Simon Fraser was named the Women's Outstanding Meet Performer. In addition to participating in Azusa Pacific's national champion distance medley relay team, Rono claimed individual national titles in the men's 5000 meter and 1 mile runs. Abdulai won the women's long jump and high jump events and placed second in the women's 60 meter dash.

Kevin Reid of Azusa Pacific was named the Men's National Coach of the Year and Ford Mastin from Oklahoma Baptist was named the Women's National Coach of the Year. For more information and a complete listing of results, please visit the NAIA's website at www.naia.org.