Quick Trip Proves to be a Success

POCATELLO -- After a short trip to Idaho, the BYU track team proved its continuing competitive strength, returning home this weekend with top finishes from both the men and women’s teams.

The women continued to improve on their early season success winning each of their matchups in the dual scored Bengal Shootout. BYU had a perfect record with wins over Idaho State, Weber State, Southern Utah, Montana State and Cal State Northridge.

“It was a long trip with some unusual circumstances, but I thought we did a really good job of adjusting and staying focused,” said BYU women’s throwing coach Dick Legas, “The meet provided us some good experience which should help in the upcoming meets.”

Freshman Fatima Makakala set the tone for the Cougars taking first in each of her events, including the 60m hurdles (8.71) and long jump (17-10.25). Teammate Madara Dzalbe also performed well finishing first in the triple jump (39-11.25) and placing her eighth on the all-time BYU records list.

Junior Kari McAllister was the top performer in the pole vault (12-00.00). Sophomore Katie Palmer finished first in the 800m (2:10.31), with Ashlee Thomas (2:18.51) and Nicole Clark (2:19.54) running to second and third-place finishes.

The mile event was dominated by sophomore Anna Sperry and the Cougars. Sperry placed first breaking the five minute barrier in a time of 4:59.49, while teammates Lacey Cramer (5:00.57), Cecily Lemmon (5:01.31), Sarah Edwards (5:02.18), Sandra Mazan (5:02.62) rounded out the top five.

Coming off last week’s home opener with several records, the men’s team looked to this weekend as an opportunity to further test its position early on in the season.

“This meet was a good meet for us,” said BYU men’s track head coach Mark Robison. “It wasn’t the best we could have done, but we competed well and got some good experience.”

Leading the sprints for BYU were freshman Rhyan Atrice (49.31) with a first-place finish in the 400-meter dash, while Bryan Payne placed second in the 200-meter with a time of 22.43.

In the distance competition, Justin Hedin placed second in the 800-meter with a time of 1:54.99, while Michael Andraszczyk (1:55.67) finished fourth.

Maintaining another first-place finish in the high jump was Trevor Heiner with a height of 6 feet 7 inches, while Whitney Neves finished first in the pole vault clearing a height of 17 feet .75 inches.

Finishing up the field events were Aaron Powell, placing second in the triple jump with a distance of 48 feet 6.0 inches, Daniel Lawson in third for the shot put (52 feet 1 inch) and Oliver Whaley in the weight throw with a distance of 53 feet 9 inches.

The men’s and women’s track teams will be on the road again next week, traveling to Albuquerque to compete in the New Mexico Invitational.