Cougars to send six athletes to Alex Wilson Invitational

PROVO, Utah – BYU track and field will send only six athletes to compete at the Alex Wilson Invitational in Notre Dame, Indiana, on Saturday, Feb. 17. This will be the final meet of the indoor track regular season before the start of conference championships.

“It is like a seek and destroy mission,” said head coach Ed Eyestone. “They’re going to go and do what they need to do in order to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Then they’ll come back and get ready for the MPSF Championships.”

Abraham Alvarado will make the trip to compete in the 800m in an attempt to solidify his NCAA qualification. Athletes need to finish with one of the top-16 marks in the nation to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships, and Alvarado currently holds the seventh-best time in 800m (1:47.98).

Eyestone believes that Alvarado is already in a good position to qualify for the NCAA Championships but still expects him finish with a faster time to strengthen his position.

The women’s DMR team currently holds the 13th-best time nationwide and will try to boost its qualifying position. Ashleigh Warner will start the relay off in the 1200m leg and will hand off the baton to Brenna Porter for the 400m leg. Kristi Rush-Briggs will receive the baton for the 800m leg and Whittni Orton will run anchor in the 1600m.

Eyestone expects the DMR team, barring any unexpected mistakes, to finish with a faster time than its current 11:18.93.

Cassidy Pinnock will be the sixth Cougar to compete at the Alex Wilson Invitational. Pinnock will compete in the 400m and will try to beat her career-best 56.07.

BYU will also send pole vaulters Sierra Hansen, Kylee Trageser and Elise Machen-Romney to compete in the Air Force Collegiate Open in Colorado Springs on Friday, Feb. 16.

The Alex Wilson Invitational will begin at 11 a.m. EST at the Loftus Sports Center. Follow BYU track and field on twitter @BYUTFXC to keep up on the action, or click here for more live stats.