2014 Pacific West Conference Championships Results (Day 1)

Fresno, CA – Out at the Fresno Pacific University Track for the start of the two-day Pacific West Conference Track & Field Championships on Friday, the Urban Knights weathered stormy conditions and even lightening to secure long jump titles for both genders, nine first place finishes, and qualify 40 marks through the prelims to Saturday's finals. Edgar Panford and Jasmin Guinn each had breakout performances in their respective long jumps, earning NCAA provisional qualifying distances in addition to their individual championships.

Essentially saving his best for last, Panford worked up to the 23-7.50 (7.20m) mark which guided him to the title. He would finish more than five inches ahead of FPU's Donte McDaniel and coming in third was ART U's own Ronald Spears, Jr. with a distance of 22-9.75 (6.95m).

Also on the men's side, Jordan Edwards lit up the track in the 100m and 200m dash prelims respectively. He placed first of 11 with a 10.77 in the 100m and his 22.19 put him on top of 14 others in the 200m. Joining him as qualifiers for the finals in the 100m were Spears, Jr., Shaquille Howard, and Panford. In the 200m, Edwards will find himself running alongside Howard, Spears, Jr., and Alexander McNally tomorrow.

The top time in the 400m prelim belonged to Howard, the reigning champion in the event, who went 48.94 to lead the field of 15 sprinters. He reached the finals along with Edwards, Spears, Jr., Quinlan Wright, and McNally.

Guinn soared to new lengths in the long jump event, delivering an 18-10.75 (5.76m) for first place of the 10 jumpers, a NCAA provisional qualifying distance, and a new career best for the sophomore. Also bringing in significant points in the long jump was Racquel Jones who finished second with an 18-5.25 (5.62m).

Always dangerous in the sprints, ART U had a group of eight led by Jones qualify to the finals from the 100m prelims. Jones posted a 12.26 to take first of 14 and was followed by Keanna Moody, Amanda Odesjo, Guinn, Dinesha Bean, Amira Barnett, Kayla Pritchett, and Dierra Haven.

Many of the same names will be running in the 200m finals as well after Bean won the prelim with a 26.02 while Odesjo, Jones, Moody, Haven, Pritchett, and Mistic Scott also qualified through. In the 400m, Scott led the way out of 13 with a 57.58. Joining Scott was Bean, Haven, Omotoyosi Oniru, and Pritchett.

ART U was also strong in the hurdle events where Bean captured first of 11 in the 100mH with a 14.34 (she was joined by Moody and Barnett). In the 400mH, Moody and Barnett each reached the finals.

Adding to the individuals qualifying to the prelims were Kaelyn Harbison and Logan Means each in the 800m. Madeline Dignadice also turned in her first collegiate 10,000m race amid the challenge of rainy weather, finishing 38:55.98 in fifth place.

The Urban Knights return to FPU Track for Saturday's finale of the PacWest Championships beginning with field events at 9:30 AM and track events at 12:25 PM. Check out the homepage for the conference championships here.