Fifteen Cougars set to compete at NCAA Track and Field Championships

PROVO, Utah — Fifteen BYU individuals will compete in 17 entries at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, beginning Wednesday, June 7, and finishing Saturday, June 10.

“I’m optimistic and excited because we’re taking our biggest group since the programs have been combined,” BYU head coach Ed Eyestone said. “It’s a big deal just to make it. Our student-athletes want to do more than just make it — they are trying to improve on their ranked position going in.”

After strong performances at the West Prelims in Austin, Texas, BYU sends the greatest number of student-athletes since the men’s and women’s programs combined. Additionally, the Cougars have the fourth-most men’s qualifiers in the country.

Tatenda Tsumba and Clayton Young will represent BYU in two events — Tsumba in the 100m and 200m, and Young in the 5000m and 10,000m. Along with Young, Rory Linkletter advanced in the 10,000m.

Whittni Orton and Chase Horrocks will move on in the 1500m while Korey Smith and Max Scheible will race in the 400m hurdles.

Husband and wife Mitchell Briggs and Kristi Rush-Briggs both qualified in the 3000m steeplechase. Rush-Briggs comes into the race with the sixth-best time in the nation. Daniel Carney and Jacob Heslington will also compete in the 3000m steeplechase.

With the fourth-best time in the country, Shea Collinsworth will run her final collegiate race in the 800m semifinal on Thursday.

Three Cougars advanced to the championships in field events. Andrea Stapleton and Zachary Stetler advanced in the high jump and shot put, respectively. Jackson Walker will compete in the decathlon on Wednesday and Thursday.

Competition begins Wednesday, with the opening events beginning at 12:30 p.m. PDT at Hayward Field. Each event will be broadcast on ESPN networks, and additional coverage and information can also be found here at NCAA.com. See below for a complete network coverage schedule.

For the complete schedule of events, click here. To follow the live stats, click here.

Below is a schedule of BYU athletes’ events (all times PDT):

Wednesday, June 7

Thursday, June 8

Friday, June 9

Saturday, June 10

* -- If qualified