TRACK / NAIA CHAMPIONSHIPS : Azusa Pacific Gets Lead It Wants

Azusa Pacific’s men’s track and field team needed to score most of its points on Friday to have much chance of winning the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics Track and Field outdoor championship this weekend at Azusa Pacific.

It did.

Azusa Pacific, which has a limited number of competitors today, has 62 points, 19 more than second-place Western Oregon State.

If Azusa Pacific can maintain its advantage, it will win its 10th NAIA title.

“We did about as good as we could do today,” Azusa Pacific Coach Terry Franson said. “This allows some room for us tomorrow.”

Particularly important were strong performances in the shotput, decathlon and triple-jump.

Rene Bustamante won the shot-put at 57 feet 6 inches.

Azusa Pacific’s David Pope and Tage Peterson finished second and third in the decathlon.

Hong Li won the long jump for Azusa Pacific with a jump of 52-10, more than a foot longer than his season best of 51-9.

In the women’s competition, Doane (Neb.) took a 45-34 lead over Wisconsin Parkside. Azusa Pacific is in fifth with 25 1/2.