LOS ANGELES -- Head Coach Patrick Shane and the BYU women’s track and field team competed at two track meets on Friday and Saturday, sending athletes to UVU and USC to improve marks and gain experience.

Competition at UVU took place on Friday and several Cougars took home first place finishes. Katy Andrews started the meet off well with a victory in the 3000m steeplechase, finishing first in 10:45.88.

Also taking home a win from the UVU Invitational was the 4x100m relay team of Fatima Makakala, Porshe Giddings, Arlene Gowar and Mindy Sagers. The foursome combined to post a season best time of 45.21 to take the victory.

The 4x400m relay team also saw success at the UVU track. Lacey Bleazard anchored the team while Nicole Clark, Sarah Edwards and Katie Palmer ran the first three legs en route to a season best 3:46.35 first place finish.

Junior Kelli Ehardt led the pole vault team in a sweep of the top five places in the event. Ehardt cleared 3.80m (12-5.50) to take the win. Elizabeth Portnova, Shanie Bushman, Diane McAllister and Catherine Ballard rounded out the top five for the Cougars.

Ehardt carried her winning ways over to Saturday at the Trojan Tri-Meet at USC. Ehardt won the pole vault at USC, improving upon her mark at UVU by .12m by clearing 3.92m (12-10.25) to take home her second win of the weekend.

Also competing well in the field events on Saturday were high jumpers Ada Robinson and Diana Blauer. Robinson won the event by clearing 1.80m (5-10.75) while Blauer finished in a close second with a leap of 1.75m (5-8.75).

Giddings led BYU in the sprint events at USC, finishing third in both the 100m (11.77) and 200m (24.23).

In the 100m hurdles Sagers led the way for BYU with a second place finish in 13.72. Senior Alyssa Christensen finished third in the event in 14.03.

Two BYU athletes at USC earned first place finishes in the distance events. Stephanie Jensen nabbed a win in the 3000m steeplechase with a 11:10.96 finish and sophomore Lindsey Sowards took first in the 3000m run in 10:00.67.

BYU will continue the outdoor track and field season next weekend as the team sends athletes to the Texas Relays, Sun Angel Classic and Utah Invitational.

PROVO -- As the track and field season reaches its midway point, the No. 11 BYU men’s team and No.17 women’s team will split this weekend between the first UVU Invitational and the Trojan Tri-Meet at USC.

“I think this weekend should provide our team the opportunity to improve a lot of our marks,” women’s head coach Patrick Shane said. “Last week (at Stanford) the weather didn’t cooperate and it was tough on our runners, especially the sprinters. This weekend should be a better situation.”

Over the first few meets of the season, wet weather in Utah and bad conditions on the road has contributed to limited outdoor practice and frustration on event days. With good conditions in the forecast, both teams will be looking for quality performances.

“I think the thing we are looking forward to is the weather being great for a change,” men’s head coach Mark Robison said. “The bad weather has been tough on us but I am just hoping for some improvement and I am really excited.”

UVU will host its first collegiate outdoor track meet on Friday and Saturday after adding an outdoor track facility this off-season. BYU will face off against the Wolverines, along with athletes from Mesa State, Utah, Utah State, Weber State and Westminster College.

At USC, the men and women will take on athletes in a scored meet from USC and Cal State Northridge, with Nevada also competing on the women’s side. The USC men will enter competition ranked sixth in the nation and the Trojan women currently sit in fifth.

The UVU Invitational will take place on Friday at the new facility on the University’s campus beginning with the hammer throw at 9:00 am. Admission will be $2.00 per person and there are no bleachers available to spectators, so please plan accordingly.

Competition at the Trojan Tri-Meet will begin on Saturday at 10:30 am MT and will finish with the men’s 1600m relay at 4:15 pm MT.

Results will be available on byucougars.com and the hosting school’s websites as soon as competition concludes.