Braden Taylor | Posted: 30 May 2021 | Updated: 18 Jun 2021

BYU qualifies 24 entries to 2021 NCAA Championships

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BYU men's 4x100m relay team - 2021 NCAA West Prelims
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COLLEGE STATION, Texas – BYU track and field concluded regional action with 24 total bids to the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships. The Cougars qualified 19 entries and broke two school records on Saturday to wrap up the NCAA West Preliminary Round at E.B. Cushing Stadium in College Station, Texas.

Both the men’s and women’s teams advanced double-digit entries to the national meet as the men advanced 14 entries and the women qualified 10 entries. Included in the 24 total entries is decathlete Dallin Vorkink who did not have to compete at regionals due to the NCAA automatically qualifying the top 24 multi-event athletes at the end of the regular season to the championship meet.

BYU opened Saturday with the men’s 4x100m relay team clocking a season-best 39.43 to earn a spot in the national meet. The team, consisting of Andrew Stuart, Michael Bluth, Landon Maxfield and Dallin Draper, finished fourth in the fastest heat of the day to advance as a time qualifier.

In the men’s 1500m quarterfinals, All-Americans Talem Franco (3:40.33) and Lucas Bons (3:40.45) finished in the top five of their heat to move on to nationals.

After racing in the 4x100m in the morning, Bluth competed in the quarterfinals of the 400m. The All-American ran an outstanding 45.13, the second-fastest time of the day, to advance to the NCAA Championships and break his own school record by .55 seconds.

Colten Yardley clocked a career-best 50.04 in the 400m hurdles quarterfinals to finish in the top three of his heat and advance to the semifinals in Eugene, Oregon. The All-American’s performance also marks the fifth-fastest 400m hurdles time in program history.

Both Bluth and Yardley ran on the men’s 4x400m relay team with Draper and Maxfield. The team ran a season-best 3:04.52 to advance to the national meet as a time qualifier.

In the women’s high jump, Cierra Tidwell Allphin cleared a career-best 1.82m/5-11.5 to finish in the top 12 and move on to the final at Hayward Field. Her performance in the high jump marks the ninth-best in program history.

All-Americans Whittni Orton (4:10.18), Anna Camp-Bennett (4:13.38) and Kate Hunter (4:14.41) each finished in the top five of their respective heats in the 1500m quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals in Eugene. Hunter’s career-best time of 4:14.41 solidified her spot as No. 7 on the BYU Top 10 list.

Both Orton and Camp-Bennett also doubled in a second event on Saturday. Orton placed third overall in the 5000m (15:58.32) to qualify for the national meet in her second event and Camp-Bennett placed second in her heat of the 800m (2:04.79) to advance to nationals in her second event. Joining Camp-Bennett in the 800m is Claire Seymour who finished second in her heat with an outdoor personal record of 2:04.07.

The Cougars had two runners advance in the men’s 3000m steeplechase and another two qualify for the semifinals in the women’s steeplechase. Garrett Marsing won his heat with a time of 8:38.68 while All-American Clayson Shumway had an impressive comeback late in his race to complete the event in 8:40.67 and advance as a time qualifier.

All-American Courtney Wayment ran the fastest steeplechase of the day with a time of 9:42.02 to automatically advance to the semifinals. The time also marked the second-best steeplechase performance all-time at an NCAA West Preliminary Round. All-American Sara Musselman completed the race in a career-best 9:55.98 to advance to the next round with Wayment and move up to No. 6 on the BYU Top 10 board.

In the men’s 5000m semifinals, Casey Clinger completed the race in 13:52.21. The All-American finished just outside the top three in his heat and advanced as the top time qualifier.

The women’s 4x400m relay team closed out the meet for the Cougars in impressive fashion. Meghan Hunter, Lauren Ellsworth-Barnes, Seymour and Alena Ellsworth broke their own school record, set earlier this season, by 3 seconds with a time of 3:33.30 to move on to the semifinals at the championship meet.

On Wednesday, the Cougars had three athletes punch their tickets to the 2021 NCAA Championships. Cameron Bates moved on in the javelin, Zach McWhorter advanced in the pole vault and Conner Mantz qualified in the 10,000m. Before the meet was postponed on Friday, Dallin Shurts secured his spot at nationals in the men’s discus.

Complete Results
Recaps: Day One | Day Two | Day Three

The 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships will begin Wednesday, June 9 and run through Saturday, June 12. The national meet will be hosted at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Information regarding the NCAA Championships can be found on ncaa.com.

Wednesday, May 26 - Results

Event Athlete Mark Finish Next Up
Javelin (M) Cameron Bates 71.13m/233-4
 
2nd Final in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
Javelin (M) Michael Whittaker 62.54m/205-2 22nd DNQ
Javelin (M) Max Tooley 60.15m/197-4 33rd DNQ
Pole Vault (M) Zach McWhorter 5.45m/17-10.5 7th Final in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
Pole Vault (M) Caleb Witsken 5.40m/17-8.5 15th DNQ
1500m (M) Lucas Bons 3:43.47 3rd Quarterfinals on Saturday, May 28 at 11:45 a.m. CDT
1500m (M) Talem Franco 3:45.42 10th Quarterfinals on Saturday, May 28 at 11:45 a.m.
1500m (M) Aidan Troutner *4:03.13    *Automatically advanced following successful protest following tripping incident Quarterfinals on Saturday, May 28 at 11:45 a.m.
1500m (M) Elijah Armstrong 3:50.55 39th DNQ
400m (M) Michael Bluth 46.14 12th Quarterfinals on Saturday, May 28 at 1:20 p.m.
400H (M) Colten Yardley 50.60 9th Quarterfinals on Saturday, May 28 at 1:55 p.m.
400H (M) Jesus Serrano 51.47 30th DNQ
200m (M) Landon Maxfield 20.97 28th DNQ
200m (M) Dallin Draper 21.53 43rd DNQ
10,000m (M) Conner Mantz 29:10.91 3rd Final in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
10,000m (M) Connor Weaver 30:42.19 37th DNQ
10,000m (M) Michael Ottesen 31:08.05 44th DNQ

Thursday, May 27

Event Athlete Mark Finish Next Up
Javelin (W) Ashton Riner 46.50m/152-7 26th DNQ
Javelin (W) Payge Jauhiainen 46.44m/152-4 27th DNQ
Javelin (W) Libby Parkinson 45.83m/150-4 29th DNQ
Shot Put (W) Sierra Freeland 15.66m/51-4.5 28th DNQ
Shot Put (W) Gretchen Hoekstre 15.20m/49-10.5 38th DNQ
100H (W) Adaobi Tabugbo 13.58w 41st DNQ
1500m (W) Whittni Orton 4:16.16 1st Quarterfinals on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
1500m (W) Anna Camp-Bennett 4:18.68 8th Quarterfinals on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
1500m (W) Olivia Hoj Simister 4:18.85 9th Quarterfinals on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
1500m (W) Simone Plourde 4:18.95 10th Quarterfinals on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
1500m (W) Kate Hunter 4:21.03 15th Quarterfinals on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
1500m (W) Lauren Ellsworth-Barnes 4:21.45 16th Quarterfinals on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
1500m (W) Heather Hanson 4:30.88 36th DNQ
100m (W) Jaslyn Gardner 11.58 39th DNQ
800m (W) Anna Camp-Bennett 2:02.83 1st Quarterfinals on Saturday at 6:10 p.m.
800m (W) Claire Seymour 2:05.27 5th Quarterfinals on Saturday at 6:10 p.m.
800m (W) Alena Ellsworth 2:06.41 12th Quarterfinals on Saturday at 6:10 p.m.
800m (W) Meghan Hunter 2:12.98 45th DNQ
400H (W) Halley Folsom Walker 1:00.01 29th DNQ
400H (W) Kayla Perry 1:00.36 34th DNQ
10,000m (W) McKenna Lee Hansen 35:06.69 20th DNQ
10,000m (W) Aubrey Frentheway 35:09.67 22nd DNQ
10,000m (W) Haley Johnston 35:40.38 30th DNQ
10,000m (W) Anna Martin 36:43.39 37th DNQ

Friday, May 28

Event Athlete Mark Finish Next Up
High Jump (M) Jake Grimsman 2.11m/6-11 21st DNQ
High Jump (M) Jacob Veres 2.06m/6-9 25th DNQ
Discus (M) Dallin Shurts 56.34m/184-10  12th Final in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
Triple Jump (M) Rickey Fantroy 15.92m/52-2.75 15th DNQ

Saturday, May 29

Event Athlete Mark Finish Next Up
4x100m (M) BYU
-Andrew Stuart
-Michael Bluth
-Landon Maxfield
-Dallin Draper
39.43 9th Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
1500m (M) Talem Franco 3:40.33 10th Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
1500m (M) Lucas Bons 3:40.45 11th Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
1500m (M) Aidan Troutner 3:45.28 20th DNQ
High Jump (W) Cierra Tidwell Allphin 1.82m/5-11.5 8th Finals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
High Jump (W) Mayci Torgerson 1.67m/5-5.75 37th DNQ
400m (M) Michael Bluth 45.13 2nd Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
Discus (W) Gretchen Hoekstre 42.41m/139-1 44th DNQ
Discus (W) Sable Lohmeier El-Bakri FOUL N/A DNQ
400m Hurdles (M) Colten Yardley 50.04 9th Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
4x400m (M)

BYU
-Colten Yardley
-Landon Maxfield
-Dallin Draper
-Michael Bluth

3:04.52 6th Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
1500m (W) Whittni Orton 4:10.18 3rd Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
1500m (W) Anna Camp-Bennett 4:13.38 9th Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
1500m (W) Kate Hunter 4:14.41 11th Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
1500m (W) Simone Plourde 4:21.47 22nd DNQ
1500m (W) Lauren Ellsworth-Barnes 4:23.19 23rd DNQ
1500m (W) Olivia Hoj Simister 4:30.37 24th DNQ
Steeplechase (M) Garrett Marsing 8:38.68 2nd Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
Steeplechase (M) Clayson Shumway 8:40.67 11th Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
Steeplechase (M) Kramer Morton 9:02.85 24th DNQ
Steeplechase (M) Matt Owens 9:03.29 25th DNQ
Steeplechase (M) Adam Wood 9:05.52 32nd DNQ
Steeplechase (W) Courtney Wayment 9:42.02 1st Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
Steeplechase (W) Sara Musselman 9:55.98 11th Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
Steeplechase (W) Lexy Halladay 10:31.29 29th DNQ
Steeplechase (W) Meri Dunford 10:34.72 32nd DNQ
Steeplechase (W) Madi Moffitt 10:47.56 43rd DNQ
800m (W) Claire Seymour 2:04.07 3rd Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
800m (W) Anna Camp-Bennett 2:04.79 6th Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
800m (W) Alena Ellsworth 2:08.31 24th DNQ
5000m (M) Casey Clinger 13:53.21 6th Finals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
5000m (W) Whittni Orton 15:58.32 3rd Finals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
4x400m (W)

BYU
-Meghan Hunter
-Lauren Ellsworth-Barnes
-Claire Seymour
-Alena Ellsworth

3:33.30 8th Semifinals in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)

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