Men, Women Successful in Defending Conference Crowns

COLORADO SPRINGS -- In a repeat performance of last year's championship meet, the BYU men's and women's track teams recorded first-place finishes at the Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships, held Thursday through Saturday at Cadet Field House. The Cougar women scored 203 points to outdistance second-place Colorado State (141), while the men won with a team score of 214 points to CSU's 132.50.

In the first day of competition, Thursday, BYU got out to a good start in the pentathlon. Freshman Maret Komarova won the women's competition with 3892 points to give BYU ten team points. On the men's side, seniors Chris Kemp and Dan Parkinson took second and fifth, respectively, to score 12 team points for the Cougars. Kemp recorded 3669 points in the five events, and Parkinson scored 3434 points in the competition. Colorado State's Doug Crumb won the men's division with 3820 points.

On Friday, while most events were just getting under way with preliminary competitions, the BYU women's team showcased some of its talented distance sqaud. Sophomores Lindsey Thomsen (17:39.20) and Tara Northcutt (17:56.75) went one-two in the 5,000 meters, and teammates Katie Martin and Sarah Ellett finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively, to give BYU 25 points in one race. In addition, senior All-American Kirsten Bolm took first in the long jump (20'02.25") to give BYU ten more points, and junior Cathy Fuailemma finished second in the weight throw (58'10.25") to improve on her season-best and add eight team points. The men's team, meanwhile, got some help from several freshmen. Josh Rohatinsky (15:24.17) recorded a second-place finish in his first race at 5,000 meters this season, and teammates Curtis Pugsley (6'10.75") and Gabe Casdorph (6"08.75) took the top two spots in the high jump. Pugsley took fourth in the long jump (22'08.50"), and BYU also got second-place finishes from both the men's and women's teams in the distance medley relay.

The Cougars continued their winning ways on Saturday, as the two teams combined for wins in 13 different events. The BYU women's distance team continued to shine, as the Cougars finished one-two-three in the 3,000 meters. Sharolyn Shields-Thayer (9:47.61) led the way, breaking her own conference championship meet record of 9:51.70 from a year ago. Courtney Meldrum (10:06.17) and Elizabeth Jackson (10:10.32) rounded out the 24-point race for the Cougars. Senior All-American Melanie Steere (4:55.56) set another conference championship meet record in the 1 mile race, while teammate Tara Haynes (5:08.37) took third. Senior All-American Jeana Bingham (5'11.25") tied her conference championship meet record in the high jump. Other event winners included sophomore Jamie Philburn (2:14.39) in the 800 meters, and Kirsten Bolm (8.36 seconds)in the 60-meter hurdles. Senior M.E. Clayton (39'11.50") took second in the triple jump, and junior Becky Beachler (49'05.00") finished second in the shot put.

Leading the way for the men's team, senior All-American Kenneth Andam swept the sprint races, winning conference championships in both the 60 meters (6.62) and 200 meters 21.15). Cougars battled it out amongst themselves for the titles in the 400 meters and the 800 meters, as BYU took the top three spots in both races. Sophomore Greg Flint (48.42) won the quarter-mile race, just edging out teammates Kish Beverly (48.56) and Matt Nielsen (49.43). In the half mile, sophomore Jeffrey Hopkinson (1:53.04) took the top spot, ahead of Drew Ostler (1:53.23) and Jason Dorais (1:54.34). Both Hopkinson and Ostler beat the previous conference championship meet record of 1:53.78. Senior All-American Jim Roberts (64'03.25") won the shot put, and sophomore Jeremy Kemp (16'04.75") took first in the pole vault. BYU also got ten points from its mile relay team that turned in a conference championship meet record time of 3:12.36 to take the win.

"Aside from a few minor setbacks, we really had a good meet," said BYU men's coach Mark Robison. "The kids did everything we asked them to. They came out and performed well and we're very happy with the win."

Several Cougars also took home additional conference awards for their performances at the championships. Curtis Pugsley won the award for the highest point total by an individual in the men's competition, and he took home the award for the outstanding male freshman as well. Pugsley tallied a total of 22 points competing in the 60-meter hurdles (8th), high jump (1st), pole vault (3rd) and long jump (4th). Maret Komarova won the award for outstanding female freshman.

The Cougars now have two weeks to prepare for the NCAA Indoor Championships, which will be held March 9-10 in Fayatteville, Ark.

For complete results of the MWC championship meet, go to www.mountainwestconf.com

MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE
INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
FINAL RESULTS
Saturday, February 24, 2001
                                                                               
SCORES FOR WOMEN                               
                                                                               
Rank School            Score    
==== ================= =======   
1    BYU               203           
2    CSU               141           
3    UNLV               98           
4    NEW MEXICO         57         
5    WYOMING            56                                                                                
6    UTAH               49                                
7    AIR FORCE          47
8    SAN DIEGO ST        8
SCORES FOR MEN                                
                                                                               
Rank School            Score    
==== ================= =======  
1    BYU               214        
2    CSU               132.50        
3    AIR FORCE         130           
4    WYOMING           127.50
5    NEW MEXICO         29
6    UTAH               16
Women's Coach Of The Year-                   Mike Jones, Utah
Men's Coach of the Year-                     Ralph Lindeman, Air Force
High Point Female Athlete Of The Meet-       Michele Davis, UNLV
High Point Male Athlete-       Curtis Pugsley, BYU, Mervin Swaby, Wyo.
Outstanding Female Athlete Performance-      Michele Davis, UNLV
Outstanding Male Athlete Performance-        Jason Gervais, Wyoming
Outstanding Female Freshman-                 Maret Komarova, BYU 
Outstanding Male Freshman-                   Curtis Pugsley, BYU