New Faces Shine for Cougar Track Team

POCATELLO -- While many of the BYU track stars took the week to rest, several new faces on the Cougar squad made good on their opportunity to compete at the Mountain State Games in Pocatello, Idaho on Saturday.

"We used lots of new faces and they all made improvements," BYU women's track coach Craig Poole said. "They stepped up and did some really good things."

Those good things include several athletes setting personal best marks during the competition.

Freshman Kristin Hirst set a personal best leap of 5 feet 6 inches on the way to winning the high jump competition. Teammate Amy Menlove also set a personal best in the high jump by clearing 5 feet 4 inches, to finish fourth.

Freshman Laura Taylor also made good on her chance to compete by running a personal best 2:15.16 in the 800 meters. Taylor finished third in the event followed directly by fellow freshman Allison Passey and Ann Marie Thomas.

Poole also said he was pleased with the efforts of Lorette Hanson, Leli Fotu, Melissa Dyer, Laura Hales and Challis Firl.

The men, meanwhile, did well also, especially in the throws.

After finishing first and second in the 35-pound weight throw on Friday, the Arrhenius brothers finished first and third in the shot put. Niklas won the event with a toss of 58 feet 10.5 inches and Leif finished third at 53 feet 7.5 inches.

BYU men's track coach Mark Robison said the wood track caused some problems for athletes with some of them losing their footing.

"We would have liked to have gotten some better marks," Robison said. "But we're finally getting close to having everybody back."

The men did manage to get some good marks though.

Sprinter Charlie Milhoan won the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.47 seconds. David Chesser and Jake Garlick finished first and second respectively in the 400 meters and Rodrigo Mendes continued to dominate the long jump by winning the event for the second time in three weeks.

With the many of the athletes resting up this week, the Cougars will look to have their best marks next week when they return to Seattle, Wash. for the second Washington Invitational.