Mt. Sac Relays next big meet for track and field

PROVO, Utah – BYU’s distance runners will compete in the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, California, while the Cougar throwers will head north for the Mark Faldmo Invitational in Logan, Utah.

“The Mt. Sac Relays are very important for the distance side of things,” BYU track and field head coach Ed Eyestone said. “This will be another great opportunity for good competition, improvement on marks, and hopefully some more regional qualifying marks will come out of it.”

Most of the men’s distance runners have already qualified for regionals and will be competing in off events this weekend in California. Those already qualified in the 10,000 meters and steeplechase will now try to qualify for regionals in the 5,000 meters.

“This will be a great chance for them to build their strength and endurance. So when they go back to their other events, they’ll have the endurance necessary to run the strong, fast pace they’ll need to reach the national meet,” said Eyestone.

Eyestone identified freshman Rory Linkletter as the top men’s athlete to watch this week. Linkletter has already qualified in the steeplechase, and he will make his season debut in the 5,000 meters. Eyestone said he has confidence that Linkletter can run a new personal record that will put him among the top-15 runners in the West Region.

On the women’s side, some distance runners are still looking for regional-qualifying marks. Natalie Shields-Connolly and Yesenia Silva will both be competing in the 5,000 meters looking to qualify. Lauren Shubin will be a top competitor in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She already owns a regional-qualifying time, and she will look to improve her personal ranking. The Mt. Sac Relays are one of the fastest meets of the year for athletes to post times.

Fresh off her record-setting performance last weekend, Shea Martinez-Collinsworth will be back competing in the 800 meters in the Golden State. Eyestone said she would face her best competition to this point in the season at the Relays.

Live results from both the Mt. Sac Relays and the Mark Faldmo Invitational can be found at byucougars.com.