Women's track & field records 11 lifetime best marks

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – During the final day of the Air Force Team Challenge in Colorado and the Husky Classic in Washington, the women’s track & field team combined for 11 career-best marks in respective events.

“I am ecstatic,” head coach Patrick Shane said. “I have coached a long time, and this is the first time we've had so many personal bests in the same night. These athletes are only getting better. If they believe in themselves and don’t put up any barriers, that will continue to happen.”

In Washington, the Cougars were led by freshman Erica Birk in the 3,000-meter race with a career-best time of 9 minutes 31.77 seconds. Though she finished fifth overall, Birk’s time ranks her 10th on BYU’s all-time record board in her first 3,000m race of her collegiate career.

Also competing in the 3,000m along with Birk were Laura Young, Andrea Nelson Harrison, Maren Hanson Fassmann and Jennica Redd. Young and Harrison finished in 11th and 15th overall with times of 9:41.22 and 9:43.95, respectively. Fassmann and Redd finished 29th and 36th in 9:55.15 and 10:04.27, respectively. All six runners in the 3,000m finished with career-best times.

In the mile, Rachel Stewart set a new personal record with her 15th-place finish in 4:54.93.

Nicole Rudd Bringhurst, who had never run in a collegiate 800-meter race before tonight, placed first in her heat and 23rd overall with a time of 2:14.34.

Full results for the Husky Classic can be found here.

To read about Day 1 of the Husky Classic, click here.

In Colorado, the Cougars were led by Rachel Fisher in the pole vault. Though not a personal record, Fisher’s vault of 4.00m put her in first place for the fourth time this season.

Taylor Stapley also recorded career bests in the 60m hurdles (8.94) and the high jump (1.73m, 5-8.00) with 9th and 5th-place finishes, respectively.

Meaghan Heffelfinger finished seventh in the weight throw with a mark of 15.98m (52-5.25), a new personal best by .57m.

In the shot put, Brianna French finished fifth overall, also recording a career best with a throw of 12.96m (42-6.25).

In the 200-meter dash, Andee Shelton and Kaylee Packham finished sixth and seventh with times of 25.48 and 25.54, respectively.

Full results for the Air Force Team Challenge can be found here.

Up next for the track & field team is the MPSF Championships, which will take place in Seattle at the Dempsey Indoor Track Feb. 22-23.