BYU track and field set to compete at Air Force Invitational

PROVO, Utah – BYU track and field heads to Colorado Springs for the Air Force Invitational Thursday through Saturday. 

“We’re looking forward to this invitational,” BYU head coach Ed Eyestone said. “It’s our first flying trip so that’s a different element. It’s going to be a great opportunity for our athletes.”

The Cougars will take throwers, sprinters, and jumpers to the meet. The distance runners are resting this week in preparation for the Washington Invitational next weekend.

The Air Force Academy campus is over 7,000 feet above sea level. The thin air will be particularly advantageous to the jumpers and vaulters.

Other teams joining BYU at the meet include Air Force, Colorado State, Northern Colorado and Wyoming.

The heptathlon and pentathlon begin Thursday with the field and track events running Friday and Saturday.

Final results of the meet will be posted to the Air Force Academy athletics website.

Athletes to watch

Braydon Bringhurst

The senior and indoor All-American from last season makes his season debut in the pole vault. His personal best in the pole vault came last season when he cleared 5.50 meters at the Lobo Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“This is a nice place for our pole vaulters,” Eyestone said. “Historically, they tend to jump really well here.”

Jackson Walker and Nicole Laws

Sophomores Walker and Laws began the season placing first at the BYU Cougar Collegiate Invitational in the heptathlon and pentathlon, respectively.

“We’re looking to see Jackson and Nicole improve on their scores and see how they rank nationally,” Eyestone said.

Anginae Monteverde

The junior is fresh off a second-place finish at the Ed Jacoby Invitational last week in the pole vault. Monteverde cleared 3.85 meters and tied freshman Elise Machen for the top mark among BYU women in the event this season.