Cougars set to host BYU Indoor Invitational

PROVO, Utah – The BYU men’s and women’s track and field teams will host the BYU Indoor Invitational this weekend starting on Thursday, Jan. 10, in the Smith Fieldhouse. Events will go through Saturday, Jan. 12.

The three-day event will feature athletes from BYU and Westminster.

This will be the first meet of 2019 and the second meet of the indoor track and field season. The Cougars’ were first tested earlier this season at the December Invite. BYU coach Ed Eyestone is looking forward to seeing the athletes compete at home following the winter break.

“This will be a good meet,” Eyestone said. “We’re going to be able to see how well people trained over the winter break. Obviously, most of the athletes are looking in fine form.”

Eyestone looks forward to seeing sprinters Michael Bluth and Brenna Porter racing in the 500m. This will be Bluth’s first year competing at BYU after running his freshman year at Utah State. Porter was named a first-team All-American during the 2018 indoor season after finishing eighth in the distance medley relay at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Following strong performances in the jumping events at the December Invite, Rickey Fantroy Jr. and Tomi Adegoke are two athletes to watch this weekend. Adegoke took first in the men’s long jump with a mark of 7.11m/23-6.25 and beat his personal best from the 2018 indoor season in the triple jump. Fantroy Jr matched his career best in the triple jump (14.93m/48-11.75) and finished second place in the men’s 60m final.

Eyestone feels that All-American Andrea Stapleton-Johnson will also continue to excel after her strong start at the December Invite. She cleared 1.82m/5-11.75 in the women’s high jump to take first in the event. Last indoor season, Stapleton-Johnson jumped 1.83m/6-0 to qualify for the 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships.

Freshmen Aubrey Frentheway and Sadie Sargent will race in their collegiate track and field debut after a successful cross country season. Both runners competed at the NCAA Cross Country Championships to help the women’s team claim a seventh-place finish. Eyestone is looking forward to the opportunity to see how the freshmen perform this weekend.

Eyestone anticipates that Jacob Foutz and Jefferson Jarvis both have shots of finishing in the top 10 for their events. At the December Invite, Foutz took first and matched his career best in the weight throw with a distance of 19.36m/63-6.25. Last indoor season Jarvis threw a season-best 17.39m/57-0.75 in the shot put at the 2018 MPSF Indoor Championships to finish 10th overall.

This home meet gives the athletes the chance to compete in their respective events while also working towards earning one of the spots on the traveling team for the upcoming away meets.

“The athletes are motivated because they’re trying to insure that they’ll be on the traveling team for the upcoming meets,” Eyestone said. “Most groups will have athletes ready to compete in full force. This is also the one home opportunity that fans have a chance to come see us.”

For a full schedule of events at the Indoor Invitational click here. Follow BYU track and field on Twitter and Instagram @BYUTFXC for updates and click here for live stats.