Wilson scores big for track team at MPSF Championships

SEATTLE – After one day of competition at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships, BYU sits in eighth place overall with 15 team points led by Elizabeth Wilson’s second-place finish in the pentathlon.

“The highlight of today was definitely Elizabeth in the pentathlon,” BYU head coach Patrick Shane said. “Even though she didn’t place as high in the 60-meter hurdles and the 800-meter race, she set new personal bests in both events.”

Wilson finished first in the shot put (13.07m), second in the long jump (5.09m), third in the high jump (1.66m), 14^th in the 800 (2:27.53) and 19^th in the 60m hurdles (9.29). She finished with 3883 points, which moved her from eighth place to seventh on BYU's all-time record board. Wilson scored eight points toward the overall team score.

Freshman Brie Simmons finished 22^nd in the pentathlon with 2339 points.

In the 5,000-meter final, junior Lindsey Sowards Nielson finished sixth in 16:43.13 to lead the distance runners. She contributed three points to the overall team score. Natalie Shields, Nicole Nielsen and Kathryn Vidmar also competed in the race finishing ninth, 10^th and 17^th, respectively.

In the distance medley relay, consisting of Ashleigh Warner, Natalie Stewart, Rachel Stewart and Candace Eddy Carlisle, the team finished fifth with a time of 11:32.47 scoring four points toward the overall score.

In the 60-meter hurdles, freshman Kaylee Packham finished 15^th with a time of 9.00. Teammate Taylor Stapley finished 18^th with a time of 9.07.

Melissa Keltner placed 13^th in the long jump, and Meaghan Heffelfinger finished 15^th in the weight throw.

“Going into tomorrow, we have strong chances of scoring in several more events including the 800, the 3,000 and the high jump,” Shane said. “Scoring in those events and others will help us improve our overall standing as a team.”

Full results from day one of the championships are found at here.

The meet continues Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. PST with the women’s high jump. The full schedule of events can be found at the MPSF Championships homepage.