nhenderson | Posted: 28 May 2015 | Updated: 8 Nov 2020

Witt and Gardner punch tickets to NCAA Championships

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AUSTIN, Texas – Seniors Jason Witt and Spencer Gardner are on to the NCAA Championships after finishing in the top 12 in the 10,000m Thursday night at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.

“Spencer ran an amazing race,” BYU head coach Ed Eyestone said. “He rose to the occasion, but we knew he was capable of that. The fact that it’s his senior year, and he made the national meet is inspiring. Ending the evening with that exclamation point put a stamp on a very good day.” 

Witt, who finished in 29:45.13 (sixth), came in as the No. 1 seed in the 10,000 meters and was expected to advance. Gardner was one of the final West qualifiers for the event (11th), but kept pace with Witt for much of the race and held on in the final laps for the top 12 finish and a place at the NCAA Championships.

"Going in to the race I was ranked 47 out of 48 people," Gardner said. "So statistically, I didn’t have a good chance of advancing. My goal going in to the race was to beat as many people as possible. As the race started, I knew I had to be up there and pass people every lap. After about 6,000 meters, the pace picked up and I knew it was now or never. I made sure to stay among the top 15 and held on at the end."  

Other highlights on day one of the West Prelims began with the 400-meter hurdles. In the men's Korey Smith led a trio of Cougars on to the next round. Smith started fast and battled for the lead going in to the final 100 meters eventually placing 2nd in his heat. Smith’s time of 51.30 was good for the fifth-best time overall. Mark Carlson and Max Scheible finished in 51.44 and 52.18, respectively.

In the women's 400-meter hurdles, Angela Shields moved on to the next round finishing in 59.73, her second-best time this season. Shields came in to the event seeded No. 31, but her time was the 17th fastest time overall.

"Angela has shown she is capable of running really fast races," Eyestone said. "We look forward to her running even faster tomorrow."

In the women’s 800m, Kelsey Brown-Gilbert and Shea Martinez raced from the front in their heats and secured automatic berths to the next round with second-place finishes. Brown-Gilbert finished in 2:08.40, while Martinez finished in 2:08.66.

No. 1 seeded Shaquille Walker took charge early in his 800-meter race, leading the whole way and taking first comfortably with a time of 1:49.64.

The meet continues tomorrow beginning at 11:00 a.m. MDT. Live results of the event can be found here. A live stream of the event can be seen at the University of Texas track and field website. A list of BYU athletes that competed today along with their results are listed below.

Women

NAME EVENT TIME FINISH Next Up
Angela Shields 400m Hurdles 59.73 17th 400m hurdle NCAA Quarterfinals (Friday 6:30 p.m. MDT)
Kaylee Packham 400m Hurdles 1:00.39 26th

Did not qualify (DNQ)

Alyssa Monteverde-Dalton 400m Hurdles 1:02.05 41st DNQ
Kelsey Brown-Gilbert 800m 2:08.40 9th 800m NCAA Quarterfinals (Friday 6:00 p.m. MDT)
Shea Martinez 800m 2:08.66 12h 800m NCAA Quarterfinals (Friday 6:00 p.m. MDT)
Carrie Jube 10,000m 36:48.04 34th DNQ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Men

NAME EVENT TIME FINISH Next Up
Jesse White 400m 47.32 32nd Did not qualify (DNQ)
Sean Adams 400m 47.34 33rd DNQ
Korey Smith 400m Hurdles 51.30 5th 400m hurdle NCAA Quarterfinals (Friday 6:45 p.m. MDT)
Mark Carlson 400m Hurdles 51.44 9th

400m hurdle NCAA Quarterfinals (Friday 6:45 p.m. MDT)

Max Scheible 400m Hurdles 52.18 23rd 400m hurdle NCAA Quarterfinals (Friday 6:45 p.m. MDT)
Cam Dopp 400m Hurdles 52.93 36th DNQ
Shaquille Walker 800m 1:49.64 11th 800m NCAA Quarterfinals (Friday 6:15 p.m. MDT)
Chase Horrocks 1500m 3:50.16 23rd DNQ
Jason Witt 10,000m 29:45.13 6th NCAA Championships (June 10-13)
Spencer Gardner 10,000m 30:03.09 11th NCAA Championships (June 10-13)
Connor McMillan 10,000m 30:52.68 20th DNQ
Dallin Farnsworth 10,000m 31:11.14 24th DNQ
Conner Peloquin 10,000m 32:19.35 40th DNQ
Zachary Stetler Discus 170–05 (51.95m) 28th DNQ
Blake Steeves Long Jump F N/A DNQ
Zachary Blackham High Jump 6–11.75 (2.13m) 19th DNQ
 

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