Outdoor Season Begins in California

IRVINE, California – (March 22, 2010) – The BYU women’s track and field team got back to work this weekend, sending a number of athletes to California for the opening outdoor meet of the season at the UC Irvine Spring Break Invitational.

The top event of the day for the Cougars was the 800-meters. Sophomore Sarah Edwards won the event in 2:10.11, a time currently ranked third in the West Region.

Sophomore Sarah Yingling and freshman Michaelanne Laurent also competed in the event well, finishing third (2:10.93) and fifth (2:15.22) respectively. Yingling’s time ranks eighth in the West Region.

Laurent put forth another good showing in the 1500-meter race, placing third in 4:32.06. Following Laurent were freshmen Candace Eddy in fourth (4:32.54) and Lisa Drury in fifth (4:34.49.)

“This was a very good meet that was well attended and provided very good competition,” BYU head coach Craig Poole said. “We had some good performances. The 800 run was a great race.”

Also placing in the top three of a distance race was senior Sarah Frey, who took third in the 5000-meter run in 17:24.64.

The hurdles were another highlight event for BYU. Senior Alyssa Christensen led the way, taking second in the 100-meter hurdles (14.51) and first in the 400-meter hurdles (61.38). Christensen’s 400mH time ranks ninth in the West Region.

Sophomore Chelsea Taylor and freshman Taylor Stapley also contributed in the hurdles, with Taylor placing third in the 400mH (61.85) and Stapley taking the same spot in the 100mH (14.73). Freshman Melissa Manwill placed fifth in the 400mH in 64.21.

Several Cougars also competed in the sprints and relays. Senior Emily Page led the way in the 200-meters, coming in seventh in 25.81. She was followed by junior Katie Eddington in ninth (26.22) and freshman Kylie Measom in 11th (26.53).

The 4x400-meter relay team of Measom, senior Jenna Lowder, Manwill and Edwards combined to finish the race in 3:54.54, good enough for second at the meet.

In the field events, senior Ashley Dziendziel led the way in the high jump, taking first with a leap of 1.73m (5-08.00). Freshmen Jaclyn Jones and Stapley tied for third in the event at 1.68m (5-06.00).

Sophomore Shanie Bushman competed well in the pole vault, finishing in a close second at 3.65m (11-11.75).

The throws were also a success for the Cougars, with several athletes placing in the top five. Sophomore Cassandra Woodall took third in the shot put (13.32m/43-08.50), and teammates Tamra Keys (13.26m/43-06.00) and Sharrisa Thayer (13.19m/43-03.25) placed fourth and fifth respectively.

“Everyone performed really well today,” Poole said. “Some athletes stepped up and did a really good job. The throws especially did well and stood out. We just want to keep getting better.”

The top finisher in the throws was senior Tipaleli Fotu in the hammer throw. She placed first in the event at 49.98m (164-00), a mark good enough for 13th in the West Region. Woodall placed fifth in the event at 45.51m (149-04).

In the javelin, freshman Ally Wardell took second at 43.92m (144-01). She was followed by fellow Cougars Sarah Lancaster in third (41.78m/137-01) and Coriann Clark in fourth (40.56m/133-01).

BYU track and field will be back in action for the second outdoor meet of the season March 26-27 in Palo Alto, California for the Stanford Invitational.