Impressive Performances for BYU Track Teams

ALBUQUERQUE -- Facing its toughest competition of the season, the BYU track teams responded well with several athletes posting solid performances.

Men

Sophomore Victor Weirich set a new personal best in the pole vault, clearing 5.50m (18-00.50) to win the event and earn the best mark in the country so far.

“The performance of the meet has to go to Victor in the pole vault,” men’s head coach Mark Robison said. “Wow, what a great meet.”

Several of BYU’s distance runners ran in the 800-meter and did not fail to impress while securing the top three finishes. Junior Miles Batty ran a 1:49.49 to win with junior Justin Hedin and senior Brian Weirich right behind with times of 1:50.43 and 1:52.14, respectively.

"We had a great meet against some phenomenal competition and we really, really ran well,” Robison said. “I’m pretty excited, I think we are going to be pretty darn good.”

The 4x400 relay team of junior Chris Carter and sophomores Sean Adams, James Derek McAllister and Cade Lindahl also faired well, turning in a time of 3:13.61 to win the event.

Senior Leif Arrhenius won the shot put with a mark of 18.39m (60-04.00). The jumpers for BYU also competed well with Anse Myller DeAraujo finishing fourth with a jump of 14.95m (49-00.75) and Kyle Mills right behind with a mark of 14.89m (48-10.25).

Women

Sophomore Rachel Fisher, competing for the first time in two weeks, placed first among collegiate competitors in the pole vault by clearing 4.15m (13-7.25). The mark currently ranks first in the Mountain West Conference and seventh in the NCAA.

Christen Botteron took second among collegiate competitors in the pole vault with a height of 4.00m (13-01.50). Following Botteron was teammate Kelli Ehardt in third with a vault of 4.00m (13.01.50).

In the sprint events, senior Porshe Giddings continued to run well with a 24.06 time in the 200m dash, a time that ranks first in the MWC and 11th in the nation. Junior Natalie Stewart ran the 400m for the first time this season and finished in 56.51, a time good enough for sixth.

Fatima Makakala ran well in the 60m hurdles, finishing preliminaries with a time of 8.61 and taking seventh in the finals.

In the field events, junior Diana Blauer surpassed her season best in the high jump with a leap of 1.82m (5-11.50). Blauer’s mark ranks second in the MWC and sixth in the NCAA.

Complete meet results can be found on www.golobos.com. Next up BYU will compete in the Washington Invitational on Jan. 28-29.