McClurkin, Clark Win in the Field

ALBUQUERQUE -- Seniors Kari Clark and Mindy McClurkin led the way with victories in the pole vault and long jump, respectively, for the BYU women’s track and field team on day three of the MWC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

"We really worked hard and put forth an amazing effort today," BYU head coach Craig Poole said. "But this conference is tough. We will really have to put on our game faces and perform tomorrow."

Clark, competing in her last MWC Outdoor meet, also came away with a victory. Clark cleared 4.20m (13-09.25) in the pole vault to edge out MWC-leader Stephanie James for first place. Sophomore Kelli Ehardt cleared 3.90m (12-09.50) to garner fourth place for BYU.

“I am very proud of Kari (Clark) and Kelli (Ehardt),” BYU pole vault coach Erik Rasmussen said. “For Kari to finally win this championship her senior year is just great. I could not be happier with the results today.”

McClurkin narrowly pulled out the victory in the long jump, leaping 6.63m (21-09.00) to edge out TCU jumper Whitney Gipson, who jumped 21-08.00. This is the second conference title in the long jump for McClurkin, who won the event during her freshmen season.

“Our conference always has strong long jumpers,” McClurkin said. “It was a goal of mine this season to win a conference championship in the long jump, so to finally achieve it feels amazing.”

McClurkin also proved to be the top competitor in the sprint events, posting the top qualifying times in the 100m (11.58) and 200m (23.95). Porshe Giddings also qualified in both events, running the second-fastest 100m (11.78) and the fourth-fastest 200m (24.51).

Senior Amy Otis also scored for the Cougars in the long jump, leaping 5.92m (19-05.25) to earn seventh place. Otis also qualified for finals in the 100m hurdles, posting the second fastest qualifying time, 13.89. Fatima Makakala (14.33) and Mindy Robins (14.34) also moved on to finals.

Katie Bowen brought the women six points with her third place finish in the 3000m steeplechase (11:00.44). Teammate Katy Andrews followed close behind, finishing fourth in 11:08.00.

All six BYU runners in the 800m preliminaries qualified for the final race Saturday. Nachelle Stewart qualified in first in 2:11.78, Lacey Cramer ranks second at 2:12.25, Angela Wagner qualified in fourth (2:12.27), Nicole Clark in fifth (2:13.23), Katie Palmer-Cox sixth (2:14.49) and Sarah Edwards in eighth (2:15.25).

Junior Alyssa Christensen qualified in first in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:02.36. Chelsea Taylor also qualified, finishing prelims in fifth in 1:02.79.

Entering the final day of competition, the Cougars sit in third place with 45 points, slightly trailing the Rams of Colorado State with 53 points and New Mexico with 45.50 points. The meet will resume tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. MST with the men’s pole vault and women’s 4x100m relay. Live results can be found at themwc.org and golobos.com.