BYU concludes weekend with 32 regional qualifying marks

Brenna Porter 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships

LOS ANGELES – BYU track and field athletes totaled 32 potential regional-qualifying marks as the Cougars completed their four-meet weekend on Saturday.

“It was an outstanding weekend of events at the four meets we were competing in,” BYU head coach Ed Eyestone said. “We continued to see great performances by the team and got more potential regional-qualifying marks. We also had some athletes competing in different events and getting potential marks in those as well. Overall, I’m very pleased with the efforts of the staff and athletes.”

The Cougars split up across the Los Angeles metropolitan area primarily based on event groups. The distance athletes primarily raced at the Bryan Clay Invitational, throwers competed at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate and Beach Invitational and the remaining event groups went to the Mt. SAC Relays.

Regional qualifying marks determined in this recap use the regional qualifiers in each event over the last five years as a gauge. Qualifiers for the NCAA West Prelims are not final until the end of the regular season.

At the Bryan Clay Invitational, Erica Birk-Jarvis moved up to No. 4 on the BYU all-time record board after finishing first in the women’s 3000m steeplechase with a career-best time of 9:55.57. Birk-Jarvis and her teammates, Emma Gee (10:19.18) and Sara Musselman (10:28.48) all put themselves in a position to potentially qualify for the NCAA West Prelims in the women’s steeplechase.

In his 2019 outdoor season debut, Rory Linkletter clocked a career-best 13:36.41 in the men’s 5000m to finish seventh in his heat and earn the No. 7 BYU all-time mark. Connor McMillan raced in the same heat and took 14th with a time of 13:51.81. Both Cougars finished with potential regional-qualifying marks.

On Friday, Whittni Orton ran a career-record 4:14.02 in the women’s 1500m to improve her position to No. 4 on the BYU all-time record board. Anna Camp ran a 4:15.15 for the fifth-fastest time in school history. Talem Franco clocked 3:42.51 in the 1500m for the No. 9 mark all-time at BYU. Orton, Camp and Franco improved their regional-qualifying positions along with nine other Cougars at the Bryan Clay Invitational.

Jacob Foutz earned a potential regional-qualifying mark at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate on Thursday. Foutz threw a career-best mark of 64.28m/210-11 to take first in the hammer throw and earn the No. 10 BYU all-time mark. In the women’s discus throw, Lohmeier earned a personal-best toss of 49.73m/163-02 and the No. 10 spot on the BYU record board.

Late Thursday night at the Mt. SAC Relays, Clayson Shumway ran the seventh-best 10,000m in school history with a time of 28:36.07 and earned another potential regional-qualifying time.

On Friday, three more Cougars positioned themselves to potentially qualify for the 2019 NCAA West Prelims. Michael Bluth ran a career-best 46.50 in the men’s 400m, Colten Yardley clocked a time of 51.75 in the men’s 400m hurdles and Rickey Fantroy Jr. had a mark of 15.11m/49-7 in the triple jump.

At the Mt. SAC Relays on Saturday the men’s 4x400m ran a 3:09.31 for their best time of the year and one step closer to a regional qualifying mark. All-American Brenna Porter placed fourth overall and clocked a time of 57.87 in the 400m hurdles, which should qualify her for regionals.

Freshman Cameron Bates had a career-best toss of 69.17m/226-11 in the javelin on Friday at the Beach Invite to solidify his regional-qualifying position. Foutz also strengthened his position in qualifying for regionals with his toss of 62.81m/206-1 in the men’s hammer throw. Sydnie Martindale had a mark of 46.15m/151-5 in the javelin that should qualify her for the NCAA West Prelims.

On Saturday at the Beach Invite, Jameson Shirley and Alex Rios earned a regional-qualifying mark as they both jumped 5.17m/16-11.50 in the men’s pole vault. Foutz threw a career-best 55.46m/181-11 in the men’s discus for another personal record and potential regional-qualifying mark.

A recap of Thursday’s and Friday’s results from the Bryan Clay Invitational, Pacific Coast Intercollegiate, Mt. SAC Relays and Beach Invite can be found on byucougars.com. The Cougars will compete next at home at the Robison Invitational beginning Friday, April 26, and concluding Saturday, April 27. Details for the meet can be found two days prior to its start on the BYU track and field schedule page.

Official Results: