Azusa Pacific University Captures Third Straight Men's National Title; Wayland Baptist University Takes Women's Crown For Second Consecutive Year

March 7, 2009

Johnson City, Tenn. - Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) captured its third straight men's national title while Wayland Baptist University (Tex.) was crowned the women's champion for the second consecutive year on the final day of competition at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in the minidome on the campus of East Tennessee State University on Saturday. After winning last year's men's national title by just ¾ of point, Azusa Pacific had a more comfortable winning margin (23.50) this year, by racking up 78.50 points, to defeat runner-up Dickinson State University (N.D.), which tallied 55 points. In a thrilling women's finish, Wayland Baptist posted 68 points to defeat runner-up Azusa Pacific, which chalked up 67 points, by just a single point. It marked the second straight year that the Wayland Baptist women edged Azusa Pacific by one point for the title.

In the final women's event of the championships, Oklahoma Baptist University pocketed the 4x400-meter relay victory with a winning time of 3:47.35. Azusa Pacific, needing a third-place finish or better in the event to earn the women's team national title, finished fourth and was edged by Wayland Baptist by one point for the women's crown.