Women Win Final MWC Championship

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- With a dominant final day the BYU women’s track and field team clinched their third consecutive Mountain West Conference outdoor championship with 191 team points.

"We just had a great final day today," head coach Patrick Shane said. "All of the athletes really performed well and we even had a few personal best performances. It means a lot to win this in our last year in the Mountain West.

The win marks the 10th MWC outdoor championship for the women’s team in 12 tries. New Mexico came in second to the Cougars with 128 points and TCU finished third with 98 points.

First year head coach Patrick Shane was named MWC Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year. Shane also won the 2011 MWC Indoor Coach of the Year award.

Junior Lacey Bleazard highlighted the meet with her third straight MWC outdoor 800m title. Bleazard finished in 2:07.06 to take the win, her sixth MWC championship overall, including indoor titles.

Just behind Bleazard in the 800m was junior Nicole Clark, who finished second in 2:08.78. Sarah Edwards also placed in the top five for BYU, taking fourth in 2:09.09.

The 1500m run featured four BYU runners in the top eight positions. Katie Palmer, the MWC indoor mile champion, took the win in 4:28.29. Senior Kari Hardt placed fourth in the race in 4:33.03, while Stacy Slight took fifth and Candace Eddy seventh.

Also winning an individual championship was Amber Wardell in the javelin. Wardell finished first with a toss of 45.89m (150-07). Amber Freeman finished third with a throw of 42.80m (140-05) and Julie Larson took sixth with a distance of 40.68m (133-05).

Alyssa Christensen narrowly missed out on defending her MWC crown in the 400m hurdles, taking second in 59.70. Freshman Allysa Hansen placed fourth in the race in 1:01.06.

In the 100m hurdles Fatima Makakala led the way for BYU with a third place finish in 13.71. Christensen crossed the line in fourth in 13.80 to score five team points.

Porshe Giddings led the Cougars in the sprints, placing fourth in both the 100m (11.88) and 200m (24.32). Aubrey Hale also placed in the 100m, taking sixth in 12.09.

Giddings and Hale also competed in the 4x100m relay that took second in 45.47. The Cougars also placed in the 4x400m, taking third in 3:40.75.

Sophomore Elizabeth Wilson, who placed fourth in the heptathlon, managed a fourth place finish in the triple jump with a leap of 12.05m (39-06.50). Cassandra Woodall took fourth in the shot put with a toss of 14.99m (49-02.25.)

BYU will continue the track and field season at the NCAA West Region meet on May 26 in Eugene, Oregon.