SEATTLE – BYU track and field opened the MPSF Indoor Track and Field Championships with a strong showing on Friday at the Dempsey Indoor Track Arena.

Sierra Hansen tied for first in the pole vault with a mark of 4.20m. This earned her a new personal record and the No. 4 all-time BYU record.

The Cougars finished strong in the men's and women's 5000m with Connor McMillan finishing first with a new career best (13:46.71) and Laura Young-Bluth placing second with a time of 15:55.96.

Derek Sorensen earned himself a new personal best with his first-place finish in the 200m (21.53).

At the conclusion of day one, the BYU men’s team leads the championship with 34.50 points.

PROVO, Utah – BYU track and field will compete at the MPSF Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday, Feb. 23 in Seattle, Washington at the Dempsey Indoor Track Arena.

“The MPSF meet is designed and designated as a meet that helps athletes tune up for the national meet,” BYU head coach Ed Eyestone said. “The championship aspect of it is de-emphasized and the schools instead focus on trying to get their people as ready as possible for the national meet.”

The Cougars will send 27 men and 27 women to participate in the meet. This will be the last meet of the season for many of them. The athletes that have qualified or are in position to qualify for nationals will focus on preparing for nationals or improving their marks to better secure their spot.

Rory Linkletter and Daniel Carney have both qualified for the 5,000m and will run the 3,000m as speed work to prepare them for the national meet. They are also looking to qualify in the 3,000m.

Andrea Stapleton is currently 15th in the high jump and hopes to improve her mark in order to secure her spot in the national meet.

The women’s DMR team qualified for nationals this past weekend and will all run individual races in order to sharpen their skills and prepare for nationals.

Kevin Nielsen qualified last year in the heptathlon and will be working to qualify again this weekend.

Abraham Alvarado has qualified in the 800m and will run a mile for strength work.

Clayton Young qualified for nationals last year and looks to qualify in the 3,000m. He was injured earlier in the season and hopes this meet will provide his ticket to nationals.

Whittni Orton has qualified in the mile and will use this meet to prepare for the national meet.

Live results for the meet can be found here and live video can be found here.