Several Cougars advance in day one of NCAA Track and Field West Prelims

AUSTIN, Texas — Two Cougars automatically qualified for the NCAA Track and Field Championships while nine others qualified for the quarterfinals in their respective events during the first day of competition at the 2017 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary on Thursday.

“We capped off an exciting night, finishing off with the men’s 10,000-meter race,” BYU head coach Ed Eyestone said. “We had a lot of athletes qualify for the next round.”

Rory Linkletter and Clayton Young punched their tickets to the championships in Eugene, Oregon, after strong performances in the 10,000m. Linkletter finished second in the heat with a time of 29:51.63 while Young posted a 29:56.58 in seventh place.

"Rory and Clayton put together a really nice 10,000-meter run. The conditions were warm and it was windy, but they executed a very smart race," Eyestone said. "Rory did work early on and kicked it in later as well."

All three male BYU 400-m hurdle athletes qualified for the quarterfinals: Korey Smith (51.69), Scott Mecham (51.80) and Max Scheible (51.88). In the 100m, Tatenda Tsumba and Clark Brown recorded times of 10.14 and 10.25, respectively, and will move on as well. Chase Horrocks will advance in the 1500m with a time of 3:51.73.

On the women's side, Shea Collinsworth punched her ticket for the next round in the 800m with a 2:07.64. Eyestone said Collinsworth had a target on her back but controlled her race well with style and grace.

Freshmen Whittni Orton and Heidi Fuhriman will both advance to women's 1500m quarterfinals after recording times of 4:28.50 and 4:33.91, respectively.

"Despite their underclassmen status, they came in strong," Eyestone said. "They were fearless."

The West Preliminary continues tomorrow as BYU athletes compete in the women’s 800m, 400m hurdles, 3000m steeplechase, discus and high jump, as well as the men’s 100m, 200m, 400m hurdles, 3000m steeplechase pole vault and shot put. West Preliminary competition will conclude Saturday, May 27, before the NCAA Championships are held June 7 through 10 in Eugene, Oregon.

Links of Note:

Men’s heats sheets and athlete bib numbers
Women’s heats sheets and athlete bib numbers
Live results
Live stream
BYU Track and Field Twitter account (@BYUTFXC)- follow for meet updates and additional information

Thursday's Results:

Women
NAME	EVENT	MARK	FINISH	NEXT UP
Brenna Porter	400m hurdles	1:08.13	42nd	Did not qualify (DNQ)
Whittni Orton	1500m	4:28.50	15th	Quarterfinals- Sat. 5/27 @ 6:30 p.m. CST
Heidi Fuhriman	1500m	4:33.91	31st	Quarterfinals- Sat. 5/27 @ 6:30 p.m. CST
Ashleigh Warner	1500m	4:34.51	34th	DNQ
Anna Camp	1500m	4:39.84	41st	DNQ
Shea Collinsworth	800m	2:07.64	7th	Quarterfinals- Fri. 5/26 @ 6:30 p.m. CST
Madelyn Brooks	800m	2:11.05	35th	DNQ
Alice Jensen	10,000m	36:00.31	26th	DNQ
Yesenia Silva	10,000m	38:17.22	39th	DNQ
Laura Young	10,000m		DNF
Nicole Naatjes	Pole Vault	3.95m	38th	DNQ
Kylee Trageser	Pole Vault	3.80m	39th	DNQ
Payge Cuthbertson	Javelin	42.95m	31st	DNQ

Men
NAME	EVENT	MARK	FINISH	NEXT UP
Korey Smith	400m hurdles	51.69	12th	Quarterfinals- Fri. 5/26 @ 7:15 p.m. CST
Scott Mecham	400m hurdles	51.80	16th	Quarterfinals- Fri. 5/26 @ 7:15 p.m. CST
Max Scheible	400m hurdles	51.88	20th	Quarterfinals- Fri. 5/26 @ 7:15 p.m. CST
Chase Horrocks	1500m	3:51.73	9th	Quarterfinals- Sat. 5/27 @ 6:45 p.m. CST
Kramer Morton	1500m	3:53.44	16th	DNQ
Talem Franco	1500m	4:00.78	38th	DNQ
Tatenda Tsumba	100m	10.14	12th	Quarterfinals- Fri. 5/26 @ 6:15 p.m. CST
Clark Brown	100m	10.25	21st	Quarterfinals- Fri. 5/26 @ 6:15 p.m. CST
Rory Linkletter	10,000m	29:51.63	2nd	Semifinals in Eugene, OR June 7-10
Clayton Young	10,000m	26:56.58	7th	Semifinals in Eugene, OR June 7-10
Jonathan Harper	10,000m	30:42.42	22nd	DNQ
Jacob Barnes	Javelin	62.51m	26th	DNQ
Kraymer Eppich	Javelin	56.01m	45th	DNQ
Blake Steeves	Long Jump	7.53m	24th	DNQ