ALBUQUERQUE- The BYU men’s track and field team had a successful outing this weekend at the Cherry and Silver Invitational in New Mexico, leaving the meet with 12 top-10 finishes.

For the third week in a row a Weirich took the title in the pole vault, but this time it was Joshua Weirich who finished first, clearing 4.77-meters (15-07.75), and teammate Buddy Cranford came in fourth at 4.47m (14-08.00).

Colby Barber placed third in the shot put throwing 16.67m (54-08.25) and Russell Nielson represented the Cougars in the high jump with a fourth place finish, jumping 2.04m (6-08.25).

On the track, Cade Lindahl gained another first-place finish for BYU in the 400m, with a time of 47.31, and Rhyan Atrice took fifth, posting 48.57.

Fan Fan Charles and Jason Hinds also added to the top-10 finishes, with Charles finishing fifth in the 60m, in 6.91, and Hinds finishing fifth in the 200m, with a time of 21.75.

BYU will continue its season on January 27-28 at both the Washington Invitational and the Air Force Team Challenge. Distance runners will primarily compete in Washington, while sprinters and jumpers will head to Air Force. 

Click here for complete results from the meet.

PROVO, Utah – The third week of the 2012 track and field season will get underway on Friday as the BYU men’s and women’s teams head to New Mexico to compete in the annual Cherry and Silver Invitational.

Both teams had strong individual performances last week at the Blue and Orange Opener in Boise and hope to build on those marks in New Mexico.

Several new athletes will open their seasons this weekend, including senior Fatima Makakala on the women’s side and sprinter Steven Hart on the men’s team. A few distance runners, including national champions Lacey Bleazard and Miles Batty, will not open their seasons until later in the year.

The competition at the meet will be the toughest the Cougars have faced this season. Strong teams from California, Colorado State, New Mexico, Portland State, Tulane, Utah State, UTEP and Washington State will be in attendance. Several professional athletes will also be competing at the meet.

Competition will begin Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. MST with the men’s pole vault. The pole vault, weight throw, long jump and high jump will be the only events contested Friday. On Saturday, competition will open at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude at 4:20 p.m. with the women’s 4x400m relay.