16 Cougars Qualify for NCAA T&F Championships

PROVO -- 16 BYU athletes, including five men and 11 women, have qualified to compete in a total of 18 events at the 2001 NCAA Track & Field Championships, beginning Wednesday May 30 through Saturday, June 2 at the University of Oregon in Eugene.

With four athletes qualified to compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the Cougars will look to score major points in the event. Leading the way for BYU will be American record-holder, Elizabeth Jackson, who is ranked first entering the event. The senior from Salt Lake City broker her own American record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Friday, May 18 at the Mountain West Conference Championships in San Diego, Calif., running the event in 9:55.63.

Jackson, one of two BYU athletes competing in multiple events, will also compete in the 5,000 meters. The seven-time All-American is ranked third entering the event with a season-best time of 15:50.52. Senior All-American Courtney Meldrum, who sat out the 1999 season after having a baby, has also qualified in two events, including the 5,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase. Freshman Maret Komarova, a native of Viljandi, Estonia, will compete in the heptathlon, entering the event as the highest-ranked freshman in the country with 5,414 points. Junior Jeana Bingham, who finished fourth in the high jump at the NCAA Championships last season, qualified again this year, ranked third with a season-best mark of 6'00.75". Defending National Champion Tara Northcutt will defend her title in the 10,000 meters, having qualified with a second-ranked time of 33:27.59 in the event.

On the men's side, senior Kenneth Andam will represent the Cougars in the 100 meters, ranked 8th in the event with a season-best time of 10.14. Junior Mao Tjiroze, a native of Windhook, Nambia, will be making his first-ever appearance at the NCAA Outdoor championships. Tjiroze automatically qualified in the 800 meters and is ranked 7th in the event after turning in a life-time best 1:47.28 at the Mountain West Conference Championships in San Diego. All-American Jeff Hansen will look to improve on his ninth-place finish in the pole vault at t last year's NCAA Outdoor Championships. Hansen will enter the event ranked 6th with a mark of 18'00.50". Senior All-American Jim Roberts will be making his third appearance at the NCAA Championships in the shot put, enter the competition ranked 10th with a distance of 63'01.25". Despite a nagging lower abdominal strain, All-American Curtis Pugsley will return for his second straight NCAA Outdoor Championship meet, ranked 8th in the decathlon with a season-best 7,519 points. Pugsley finished sixth at last year's NCAA Championships with a personal best 7,531 points.

Senior Kirsten Bolm, who was a provisional qualifier in both the 100-meter hurdles and long jump will not compete at the NCAA Championships after returning to Germany to be with her grandfather who is recovering from a stroke. Super freshman Josh Rohatinsky, who would have qualified in the 10,000 meters, will not participate due to a stress fracture in his left leg.

2001 NCAA Track & Field Championships
Participant List
Women              Rank     Event            Qualifying TIme/Dist.
Jeana Bingham      3rd     High Jump              6'00.75"
Nan Evans          6th     3,000 M Steeplechase   10:08.85
Holly Haguewood    18th    800 M                  2:06.22
Tara Haynes        13th    3,000 M Steeplechase   10:17.39
Elizabeth Jackson  3rd     5,000 M                1:50.56
                   1st     3,000 M Steeplechase   9:55.63
Maret Komarova     20th    Heptathlon	             5,414 pts.
Courtney Meldrum   19th    5,000 M                16:12.45
                   10th    3,000 M                10:13.81
Tara Northcutt     2nd     10,000 M               33:27.59
Sharolyn Shields   12th    1,500 M                4:20.52
Lindsey Thomsen    11th    10,000 M               34:10.50
Missy Wood         18th    Javelin                157"08.00"
Men                Rank    Event            Qualifying TIme/Dist.
Kenneth Andam      8th     100 M                 10.14
Jeff Hansen        6th     Pole Vault            18'00.50"
Curtis Pugsley     8th     Decathlon             7,519 pts.
Jim Roberts        10th    Shot Put              63"01.25"
Mao Tjiroze        7th     800 M                 1:47.28