Seymour, Gardner and Faulkner win events at Robison Invitational

PROVO, Utah — No. 11 BYU women’s track and field saw three program top-10 marks set at the Robison Invitational at Clarence Robison Track and Field Complex on Friday afternoon.

While the pole vault was moved indoors due to weather-related precautions, Cailee Faulkner and Rebekah Ross continued their mid-season surge as each posted personal-bests and finished first and second, respectively.

Faulkner cleared 4.32-meters/14-2 and moved to No. 2 all-time at BYU while Ross topped 4.27m/14-0 for No. 3 in program history. Both vaulters surpassed marks set by Christen Botteron Guenther (2012) and Kari Clark (2010). Faulkner and Ross each began Friday tied for 21st nationally in the pole vault. Following their performances on Friday, Faulkner jumped to a tie for ninth with Sydney Horn of High Point, while Ross moved up to a tie for 14th with Illinois’s Tori Thomas.

Claire Seymour, Marianne Barber and Sami Oblad filled three of the top-5 spots in the women’s 400-meters. Seymour clocked 53.90 to win the event. Barber took third at 54.46 and Oblad set a personal-best at 55.21 to cross in fifth. Barber’s 54.46 ties Nachelle Stewart Mackie for No. 10 all-time at BYU.

The 100-meter and 100-meter hurdles preliminary rounds saw three BYU women’s sprinters qualify for Saturday finals.

Jaslyn Gardner broke away to win the 100 at 11.55 while Emma Johnson took sixth with a personal-best 11.96.  Lindsey Middleton moved on in the 100-meter hurdles with a personal-best 14.61. Middleton will compete in the hurdles final on Saturday at 1:04 p.m. MDT. Gardner and Johnson race in the 100m final on Saturday at 1:50 p.m.

“This was a very solid day for the entire sprint and hurdle group,” said BYU sprints coach Kyle Grossarth. “I’m super happy with their performances and excited to see tomorrow’s events.”

BYU women’s distance starts Saturday’s action with the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 11:30 a.m.