Ten BYU Athletes Qualify for Regionals

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WALNUT -- The BYU track and field teams competed in the Mt. SAC Relays, the Ponoma-Pitzer Invitational and the Mark Faldmo Invitational over the weekend and had strong showings in each.

The distance teams competed at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., and showed their depth with seven female athletes and three male athletes posting regional qualifying times.

The women dominated the 3,000-meter steeplechase invitational with five runners qualifying for regionals. Kassi Andersen placed first with a time of 10:05.73. She was followed by Lisa Antonelli in eighth (10:26.17), Nan Kennard in ninth (10:30.48), KristyBarrus in 13th (10:52.85) and Shalice Pugmire in 14th (10:55.71).

Women's assistant coach Patrick Shane said, "Kassi Andersen ran a great steeplechase and it was her first time running it. It is an indication of how good she is going to be in the steeple. She is going to run a lot faster. "

He continued, "In the steeplechase, unlike the other events, you have to get over these barriers. One little mistake and you're not only out for the race, but out for the year. So you've got to be careful."

In the 5,000-meter run, Kristen Ogden ran a time of 16:19.86 to qualify for regionals and Laura Turner, who had previously qualified in the 5,000 meter, ran a personal season best of 16:38.67.

"It was a very good meet for us," Shane said. "We accomplished what we wanted to accomplish for this particular meet, as far as qualifying for regionals and learning how to run the steeplechase."

Part of the women's team also competed at the Pomona-Pitzer Invitational in Claremont, Calif. Alicia Thompson qualified for regionals in the pole vault, clearing a height of 12-00. Chelsea Weenig posted a BYU season best in the hammer throw with a toss of 174-07.

The men's track team competed at the Mt. SAC Relays and the Mark Faldmo Invitational, hosted by Utah State. In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Matt Adams ran a time of 8:57.54 to qualify for regionals.

Bryan Lindsay and Kip Kangogo both qualified in the 5,000-meter run. Lindsay ran a time of 14:19.41 in the 5,000-meter open, and Kangogo posted a blazing time of 13:53.67 in the invitational race. Kangogo's 5,000-meter time is the fifth fastest time in BYU history.

A few throwers and sprinters on the men's team also competed at the Mark Faldmo Invitational in Logan, Utah.

Men's head coach Mark Robison said, "The throwers did really well. Dan Arrhenius went 179 feet in the discus, which is his best by a long ways. Matt Holcomb had a six or seven foot lifetime best. He was throwing incredibly well. We had a heck of a meet."

The Cougars will host the Robison Invitational in Provo, Utah. The meet will start Wednesday, April 23, with the decathlon and will conclude April 26.