CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona Freshman Angel Perkins runs the 400-meter sprint during the Jim Click Shootout in March. Perkins recorded her best time in over two years in the event this weekend (53.83) in Tempe.

The UA track and field team kept its season rolling this weekend, splitting the squad to send its field athletes to the Mesa Invitational at Mesa Community College on Friday and its track unit to The Sun Angel Classic in Tempe on Saturday.

Throwing sensation Sean Shields highlighted the afternoon in Mesa by taking first place in the shotput with a toss of 63 feet. The sophomore's throw was a new outdoor best on the season in the event. Last season Shields set the freshman shotput record while going on to break the record three more times.

Arizona's Amber Varner matched Shields' effort, taking home the top shotput mark for the women. The junior's toss of 48 feet, 1 1/4 inches was best among athletes from the 27 colleges competing in Mesa.

"Amber follows the same training regimen as Sean," head coach Fred Harvey said. The first year coach was pleased with the two performers' showing in Mesa, citing both Shields' and Varner's work ethic.

"The talent has been there," Harvey said of Varner. "Now she's getting ahold of the technique and coming on big time for us, that's why you're starting to see (personal record) after P.R. after P.R."

Juanita Braun set a new personal best in the pole vault. The senior's height of 12 feet, 5 1/2 inches was good enough to earn a second place finish and a berth into the Pac-10 championships.

The Wildcats continued their strong performances in Tempe, with nine athletes running away with personal records.

Team captain Matt Lea had what Harvey referred to as a "break-out meet." The senior earned a NCAA post-season qualifying mark in the 400-meter dash with a time of 47.42 seconds.

Angel Perkins excelled for the Wildcat women on the track, running in the 400-meter. The freshman's mark of 53.83 was her fastest recorded time in over two years.

Despite not winning any events in Tempe, Harvey feels the weekend was still a success.

"It was a great meet for us," Harvey said of both competitions this weekend. According to Harvey, the two Phoenix-area meets were designed as "developmental meets," aimed at building the UA squads toward postseason play.

"Our plan is coming together," Harvey said. "We are starting to see the level of our athletes, some of which have never been to postseason play."

Harvey feels his Wildcats are readying themselves for a successful postseason run.

"The ability is there," Harvey said. "I feel we can compete with anyone in the nation."

The Wildcats will return to the Los Angeles, Calif. area for a three day meet beginning on Thursday. Both the men's and women's squads will compete in the Mt. SAC relays in Walnut, Calif., Thursday through Saturday, while the discus throwers will make their way to Antelope Valley, Calif. to participate in the Antelope Valley Discus Classic on Thursday.