BYU track and field to compete at Texas Relays, Stanford Invitational

PROVO, Utah – The Cougars will split to compete in four different track meets this week with the majority of the Cougars traveling to Texas and California to compete in the Texas Relays and Stanford Invitational.

“The Stanford meet for the men’s and women’s distance runners is a very important meet for us,” said BYU head coach Ed Eyestone. “We’re looking to get a majority of our regional qualifiers at this meet. We’ve been preparing well for it and we’ll be running some of our top athletes. In addition to them, we have some athletes going to Texas Relays and others competing this weekend here at UVU. The majority of our track team will be competing in one of four different meets, so it’s an important weekend.”

The BYU track and field teams will have athletes competing in the Texas Relays, Stanford Invitational, Mike Fanelli Track Classic and the UVU Collegiate Invite.

A smaller squad of sprinters and field athletes will head to the Texas Relays. Events begin on Wednesday, March 27, and events continue through Saturday, March 31.

The Stanford Invitational begins on Friday, March 29, and finishes on Saturday, March 30. The meet will feature qualifying distance and middle distance runners. Those who do not qualify for the Stanford Invitational will run in the Mike Fanelli Track Classic on the same days.

Several Cougars will also compete in the UVU Collegiate Invite, including All-American Andrea-Stapleton Johnson in the high jump, Elise Romney in the pole vault and Rickey Fantroy in the triple jump. Jacob Foutz and Jefferson Jarvis will be competing in the throws, along with Sydnie Martindale. Martindale earned the No. 8 all-time mark in BYU history after tossing the javelin 48.48m/159-0 at the Aztec Invitational last weekend.

Eyestone is looking forward to the outdoor season debut of the men’s and women’s distance runners at Stanford and expects several regional-qualifying times from this weekend’s competition.

All-Americans Conner Mantz and Clayton Young will make their season debuts in the 10,000m. In the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships, Mantz finished 22nd overall in the 10,000m with honorable mention All-America honors. Young was ranked No. 6 in the preseason rankings in the 10,000m and ran a career-best No.5 time in school history (28:27.48) at the Stanford Invitational last year. All-American Connor McMillan is set to race in the 5000m and ranked seventh in the nation in preseason rankings.

On the women’s side, All-Americans Erica Birk-Jarvis will race in the 5000m and Whittni Orton in the 1500m. Orton placed 19th in the 1500m prelims (4:17.84) at the 2018 NCAA Championships. Eyestone is also hopeful that they contribute to the number of BYU regional qualifiers this season.

Eyestone anticipates success from the Cougars traveling to the Texas Relays as well. True freshman Cameron Bates will compete in the javelin after tossing the No. 5 javelin throw in BYU history (68.95/226-2) at the Willie Williams Invite earlier this season.

Scott Mecham and All-American Brenna Porter will make their season debuts in the men’s and women’s 400m hurdles, respectively. Mecham finished 14th in the 400m hurdles at the 2018 NCAA West Prelims and ranked No. 13 in preseason rankings. All-American Porter placed 18th overall in the 400m hurdles at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

FloTrack.com will be streaming the Stanford Invitational and the Mike Fanelli Track Classic. The Longhorn Networks will be streaming the Texas Relays. Follow @BYUTFXC on Twitter for team updates. Live stats will be available on the BYU track and field schedule page by the first day of competition.