Joseph Hovey | Posted: 23 May 2022 | Updated: 22 May 2023

Track and field travels to Arkansas for NCAA West Preliminary
Colten Yardley hurdles at the 2021 NCAA West Prelims in College Station, Texas

PROVO, Utah — No. 9 BYU men's track and field renews its pursuit for national championships as the 2022 NCAA Division I Track and Field West Preliminary begins from John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Wednesday. 

The Cougars will compete 24 athletes in 14 events starting Wednesday at 1 p.m. CDT. Men's events run Wednesday and Friday, May 25 and 27, while the BYU women compete in events scheduled for Thursday and Saturday, May 26 and 28. 

Decathletes, including BYU's Dallin Vorkink, automatically advance to compete at the NCAA Division I Track and Field National Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon on June 8-11. 

BYU ranks No. 3 nationally with 59 combined men's and women's preliminary entries. The Cougars led the nation in preliminary entries a season ago with a program-record 69. 

Meet Information

  • Dates: May 25-28
  • Host: Arkansas
  • Venue: John McDonnell Field // Fayetteville, Arkansas
  • Men's Events: May 25, 27
  • Women's Events: May 26, 28
  • Watch: SEC Network+
    • Coverage begins at 6 p.m. CDT on Wednesday and Thursday, and at 5 p.m. CDT on Friday and Saturday
  • Live Results
  • Schedule
  • Tickets
  • Parking

BYU and Fayetteville

BYU pole vaulter Zach McWhorter and his father, event coach and alumnus Rick McWhorter, will enjoy a homecoming of sorts at the preliminary meet. The McWhorters lived in the Fayetteville suburb of Springdale prior to joining BYU track and field. Zach McWhorter starred in multiple sports at Springdale's Har-Ber High School. 

John McDonnell Field holds a special place in Cougar track and field lore. It was there that former BYU athlete Kyle Perry won the steeplechase national championship with a time of 8:29.24 on June 12, 2009. 

 Combined Men's and Women's Prelim Entries - Top-10
Ranking Team Entries
No. 1 Texas 67
No. 2 Texas Tech 62
T-2 BYU 62
No. 4 Oregon 57
No. 5 Oklahoma 55
No. 6 Arkansas 54
No. 7 Ohio State 52
No. 8 Texas A&M 51
No. 9 Florida 48
No. 10 Florida State 45

BYU Athletes Competing

*All times CDT

  • Jacob Barnes // Sr. // Spokane, Wash.
    • Event: Javelin Throw
    • Event Date &Time: Wednesday at 1 p.m.
    • Qualifying Mark: 61.96m/203-3
  • Danny Bryant // Fr. // Valencia, Calif.   
    • Event: Shot Put 
    • Event Date & Time: Wednesday at 7 p.m.
    • Qualifying Mark: 18.81m/61-8.6
  • Spencer Carlile // Fr. // St. George, Utah
    • Event: 400m hurdles
    • Event Date & Time: Wednesday at 8:20 p.m. 
    • Qualifying Time: 51.88
  • Casey Clinger // Jr. // American Fork, Utah
    • Events: 10,000m and 5,000m
    • Events Date and Time:
      • 10,000m on Wednesday at 9:10 p.m.
      • 5,000m on Friday at 9:10 p.m.
    • Qualifying Time (10,000m): 28:16.15
    • Qualifying Time (5,000m): 13:23.33
    • BYU Top-10: No. 1 all-time in the 5000m at 13:23.33 (2022)
    • BYU Top-10: No. 7 all-time in the 10,000m at 28:16.15
  • Jared Davis // Fr. // Akron, Ohio
    • Event: 4x100m relay
    • Event Date and Time: Friday at 5 p.m.
    • Squad Qualifying Time: 39.41
  • Dallin Draper // Fr. // Delta, Utah
    • Events: 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m relay
    • Events Date and Time:
      • 200m on Wednesday at 8:45 p.m.
      • 4x100m on Friday at 5 p.m.
      • 4x400m on Friday at 7:45 p.m.
    • Qualifying Time: 20.93
    • Squad Qualifying Time (4x100): 39.41
    • Squad Qualifying Time (4x400): 3:05.18
  • Zach Erikson // Fr. // Idaho Falls, Idaho
    • Event: Steeplechase
    • Event Date and Time: Friday at 5:40 p.m. 
    • Qualifying Time: 8:46.98
  • Sebastian Fernandez // Fr. // Andover, Minn. 
    • Event: 800m
    • Event Date and Time: Wednesday at 7:50 p.m.
    • Qualifying Time: 1:46.51
    • BYU Top-10: No. 5 all-time in the 800m at 1:47.03 (2022)
  • Brandon Garnica // Jr. // Springville, Utah
    • Events: 10,000m and 5,000m
    • Events Date and Time:
      • 10,000m on Wednesday at 9:10 p.m.
      • 5,000m on Friday at 9:10 p.m.
    • Qualifying Time (10,000m): 28:19.60
    • Qualifying Time (5000m): 13:37.18
    • BYU Top-10 (10,000m): No. 9 all-time at 28:19.60 (2022)
    • BYU Top-10 (5,000m): No. 4 all-time at 13:26.62 (2021)
  • Trey Jackson // Fr. // Alpine, Utah
    • Event: 400m
    • Event Date and Time: Wednesday at 7:25 p.m.
    • Qualifying Time: 46.35
    • BYU Top-10: No. 9 all-time in the 400m at 46.24 (2022)
  • Jace Jensen // Fr. // Bountiful, Utah
    • Event: 4x400m relay
    • Event Date and Time: Friday at 8:45 p.m.
    • Squad Qualifying Time: 3:05.18
  • Garrett Marsing // Sr. // Price, Utah
    • Event: Steeplechase
    • Event Date and Time: Friday at 5:40 p.m.
    • Qualifying Time: 8:47.79
  • Landon Maxfield // So. // Sandy, Utah
    • Events: 4x100m and 4x400m relays
    • Events Date and Time:
      • 4x100 on Friday at 5 p.m.
      • 4x400 on Friday at 8:45 p.m.
    • Squad Qualifying Time (4x100): 39.41
    • Squad Qualifying Time (4x400): 3:05.18
  • Zach McWhorter // So. // Springdale, Ark.
    • Event: Pole Vault
    • Event Date and Time: Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
    • Qualifying Mark: 5.76m/18-10.75
    • BYU Top-10: No. 1 all-time at 5.76m/18-10.75 (2022)
  • Joey Nokes // Fr. // Riverton, Utah 
    • Event: 10,000m
    • Event Date and Time: Wednesday at 9:10 p.m.
    • Qualifying Time: 28:37.97
  • Kenneth Rooks // Fr. // Walla Walla, Wash.
    • Event: Steeplechase
    • Event Date and Time: Friday at 5:40 p.m.
    • Qualifying Time: 8:31.19
    • BYU Top-10: No. 3 all-time at 8:31.19 (2022)
  • Dallin Shurts // Jr. // Banks, Ore.
    • Event: Discus Throw
    • Event Date and Time: Friday at 1 p.m. CDT
    • Qualifying Mark: 61.10m/200-5.5
    • BYU Top-10: No. 7 all-time at 61.10m/200-5.5 
  • Davin Thompson // Fr. // Lehi, Utah
    • Event: Steeplechase
    • Event Date and Time: Friday at 5:40 p.m.
    • Qualifying Time: 8:45.73
  • Aidan Troutner // Fr. // Provo, Utah
    • Event: 1500m
    • Event Date and Time: Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
    • Qualifying Time: 3:42.70
  • Dallin Vorkink // Jr. // Kirksville, Mo. 
    • Event: Decathlon
    • Qualifying Score: 7,894 points
    • BYU Top-10: No. 4 all-time at 7,894 
    • *Will not compete until June 8 at the National Championship meet in Eugene, Oregon. 
  • Michael Whittaker // Jr. // Spanish Fork, Utah
    • Event: Javelin Throw
    • Event Date and Time: Wednesday at 2 p.m. 
    • Qualifying Mark: 68.74m/225-6
    • BYU Top-10: 68.74m/225-6
  • Caleb Witsken // Jr. // Logandale, Nev.
    • Event: Pole Vault
    • Event Date and Time: Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
    • Qualifying Mark: 5.56m/18-3
    • BYU Top-10: No. 3 all-time at 5.56m/18-3 (2022)
  • Adam Wood // Jr. // Herriman, Utah
    • Event: Steeplechase
    • Event Date and Time: Friday at 5:40 p.m.
    • Qualifying Time: 8:49.26
  • Colten Yardley // Sr. // Clinton, Utah
    • Events: 400m hurdles, 4x100m and 4x400m relays
    • Events Date and Time: 
      • 400m hurdles on Wednesday at 8:20 p.m.
      • 4x100m on Friday at 5 p.m.
      • 4x400m on Friday at 8:45 p.m. 
    • Qualifying Time (400m hurdles): 49.83
    • Squad Qualifying Time (4x100): 39.41
    • Squad Qualifying Time (4x400): 3:05.18
    • BYU Top-10: No. 5 all-time in the 400m hurdles at 49.83 (2022)

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