NAIA TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS : All-American Carlsons Finish Third, Fourth in High Jump

AZUSA â€”  Kevin and Brian Carlson, Southern California College’s part-time high jumpers, finished third and fourth at the NAIA Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Azusa Pacific.

The Carlson brothers and Jason Clinch of Linfield (Ore.) each cleared 6 feet 11 3/4 inches. Clinch finished second and Kevin Carlson third based on fewer misses. Lee Pool of Dallas Baptist won with a mark of 7-3, which is 2 1/2 inches better than the Carlsons’ best mark this season.

The Carlsons, former Katella High basketball and track and field standouts, are attending SCC on partial basketball scholarships. Because of their schedules and the lack of a high-jump pit on campus, they work out sporadically.

Even so, they became SCC’s first male track and field All-Americans (top-six finish) since 1974.

“I’m very happy with how I did,� Kevin Carlson said. “I didn’t know what to expect and I was right around where I’ve been [jumping] all season, so I’m pleased. I went up to 7-1 3/4 and almost had it. I think it took off of my heel.�

Said Brian: “I’m sure I drove my family, friends and coaches crazy,� Brian Carlson said. “I kind of struggled, but I’m happy.�

SCC’s Nikee Pool finished fourth in the women’s 800 meters in a personal best 2 minutes 12.55 seconds to also earn All-American honors.

Azusa Pacific, which led the men’s team competition by large margins on the first two days of the meet, was overtaken by Lubbock (Tex.) Christian with only one event left--the discus.

Azusa Pacific had two athletes in the event and needed a combined eight points from them.

Jon Davis and Rene Bustamante finished fourth and fifth to give the Cougars nine and Azusa Pacific repeated as NAIA champions with a score of 105 1/3.

Lubbock Christian finished with 104.

Davis, who was expected to finish sixth at best, finished fourth with a mark of 164-3. Bustamante was fifth.

The closest winning margin before was 1 1/2 points in 1967.

The women’s competition was nearly as close. Two-thirds of a point separated Central State of Ohio from Southern of New Orleans before the final event: the 1,600 relay. Southern won, beating Central State by three seconds to win the title, 104.5 to 103.