BYU Track Teams Climb In National Poll

PROVO -- Due to a solid start for the 2011 campaign, BYU men’s track has cracked the top 25 of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association national poll for Division-I teams at No. 17. The women’s team has also jumped two spots to No. 10.

While competing at invitational meets for the first three weeks of the season both teams have seen athletes translate hard work to good performances leading to the recognition.

Recently the distance team for the men has been impressive with junior Miles Batty turning in a 3:59.27 mile time for one of the top marks in the nation to go along with his 1:49.49 top time in the 800-meter run.

Field events have been a strength with pole vaulters on both teams showing well. Sophomore Victor Weirich recently cleared 5.50m (18-0.50), a personal best and automatic qualifying mark for the NCAA’s. Sophomore Rachel Fisher also cleared 4.15m (13-7.25) recently in the pole vault for a top mark in the Mountain West Conference and seventh in the nation.

In the high jump it’s junior Diana Blauer leading the way. In her last meet she cleared 1.82m (5-11.50), a mark that ranks sixth nationally.

Senior Porshe Giddings has been a major force for the Cougars in the sprints. The New Jersey product ran the 200-meter dash in a time of 24.06 at the New Mexico Cherry and Silver Invitational to lead the MWC and good for 15th in the country.

Both teams will be back in action this week at the Boise State Invitational and Washington Invitational.