Glendale, Ariz. - ACU Men's Track and Field showed no signs of slowing at the GCC Invite, their 2024 regular-season finale. A grand total of 14 personal bests and 14 program top-10 performances proved the Firestorm are hitting their stride with the postseason on their horizon. Top Arizona colleges such as Grand Canyon University, OUAZ and Mesa Community College shared the track and field with Arizona Christian on Saturday evening.

Lionel McPhaull led a quintet of personal bests in the 200 meter dash, with a 51.21-second burst of speed that earned fifth place out of 23 competitors. Alonzo Paul (52.61 seconds) and Zachary Holland (52.90 seconds) also finished in the top-10, ninth and tenth respectively.

Brandon Ericson ran an 800-meter time (2:00.76) just over a tick above his all-time best for a sixth-place finish and was the medalist of the 1500 meter (4:06.68).

The relay teams were a definite bright spot for the Firestorm, the same foursome (Malaki Cowan, Jase Carrasquillo, Lionel McPhaull, Alonzo Paul) establishing season bests in the 4x100 (42.72 seconds) and 4x400 (3:31.92). The times rank second and third in the GSAC.

TaHaj Acoff had quite the day in throwing events. He not only ushered in two personal bests in discus (45.46 m) and hammer throw (36.98 m) but signed his name by two top-three performances in program history. The freshman's discus mark ranks second in the GSAC.

Jase Carrasquillo launched himself a season-best 7.04 meters in long jump, for the second farthest distance in ACU history. The leap also garnered national notoriety, as it ranks 18th in the NAIA.

EVENT DETAILS

GCC Invitational (April 13th)

Location- Glendale, AZ (Hosted by Glendale Community College)
Start Time- 3:00 PM

Full Team Results: https://results.wingfootfinish.com/meets/32506/events/individual/1237056 

RESULTS

100 Meters

• Alonzo Paul - 11.20 sec (12th/37)
• Xuru Ren- 12.15 sec (33rd)

200 Meters

• Xuru Ren- 24.39 sec (PR and 33rd/35)

400 Meters

• Lionel McPhaull- 51.21 sec (PR and 5th/23)
• Alonzo Paul- 52.61 sec (PR and 9th)
• Zachary Holland- 52.90 sec (PR and 10th)
• Tyrus Allen- 53.66 sec (PR and 13th)
• Randall Evans III- 56.15 sec (20th)
• Brent Nelson Jr.- 57.40 sec (PR and 21st)
• Brady Ferris- 57.65 sec (22nd)

800 Meters

• Brandon Ericson- 2:00.76 (6th/30)
• Julian Salyer- 2:05.79 (11th)
• Trevin Janssen- 2:09.56 (18th)
• Trent Janssen- 2:11.33 (21st)
• Brady Lambrecht- 2:15.73 (23rd)
• Tyrus Allen- 2:20.34 (26th)
• Randall Evans III- 2:20.77 (27th)
• Brady Ferris- 2:30.28 (PR and 29th)

1500 Meters

• Brandon Ericson- 4:06.68 (1st/20)
• Nick Valle- 4:11.55 (4th)
• Julian Salyer- 4:20.96 (PR and 10th)
• Trent Janssen- 4:21.27 (11th)
• Trevin Janssen- 4:24.87 (13th)
• Brady Lambrecht- 4:38.38 (PR and 19th)

110-Meter Hurdles

• Manny Valenzuela- 18.26 sec (9th/10)

4x100 Relay

• ACU- 42.72 sec (SB, 3rd/5, T-5th all-time for ACU men; Malaki Cowan, Jase Carrasquillo, Lionel McPhaull, Alonzo Paul)

4x400 Relay

• ACU- 3:31.92 (SB and 4th/7; Malaki Cowan, Jase Carrasquillo, Lionel McPhaull, Alonzo Paul)

Shot Put

• TaHaj Acoff- 14.20 m (2nd/13)
• Tully Farmer- 12.19 m (4th)
• Harrison Still- 10.63 m (8th)

Hammer Throw

• TaHaj Acoff- 36.98 m (PR, 11th/15, 2nd all-time for ACU men)
• Tully Farmer- 35.17 m (PR, 12th, 4th all-time for ACU men)
• Harrison Still- 34.49 m (PR, 13th, 6th all-time for ACU men)

Discus Throw

• TaHaj Acoff- 45.46 m (PR, 2nd/18, 3rd all-time for ACU men)
• Tully Farmer- 34.42 m (PR and 8th)
• Drew Gertenrich- 33.33 m (11th)
• Manny Valenzuela- 25.26 m (17th)

Pole Vault

• Manny Valenzuela- 3.17 m (8th/8)

Triple Jump

• Brent Nelson Jr.- 11.95 m (5th/5)

Long Jump

• Jase Carrasquillo- 7.04 m (SB, 4th/17, 2nd all-time for ACU men)
• Malaki Cowan- 6.43 m (9th)
• Xuru Ren- 4.54 m (17th)

High Jump

• Malaki Cowan- 1.77 m (8th/8)

THOUGHTS FROM COACH BRIAN BELL

"The coaching staff and I were very pleased to see great performances on the track and the joy the athletes brought to the competition," Coach Bell said. "I was particularly pleased with how well our relay teams performed.  The team has come a long way since our first meet in early December. We are all very proud of  the men's and women's teams." 

NEXT UP FOR THE FIRESTORM

The Firestorm travel to Moorpark, California for the second time this season, this time for the 2024 GSAC Track and Field Championship (April 24-25). Moorpark College is acting host of the postseason meet. Keep up with ACU Men's Track and Field this 2024 season by following @acufirestorm on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and check out @firestorm_xctf on Instagram for additional content.


Roll Storm!