PROVO -- With the first day of finals scheduled for Saturday, a limited number of BYU track athletes participated in two meets this weekend, including distance star Josh Rohatinsky and 800 meter specialist Aneta Lemeisz.

Both Rohatinsky and Lemeisz set regional qualifying marks at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.

Rohatinsky placed fifth overall in the 10,000 meters, but was the second collegian to cross the finish line. BYU distance coach Ed Eyestone said Rohatinsky's mark was No. 2 in school history.

"He mixed it up with the top guys, including some Olympic caliber guys," Eyestone said of Rohatinsky's performance. "I was pleased with the way he ran."

Lemeisz has been running well lately after posting a top-5 national mark in the 800 meters a couple of weeks ago. She ran a 2:09.80 at Mt. SAC after starting fast and holding one to place second.

Lisa Pratt also received a regional qualifying mark in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Chelsea Smith barely missed a qualifying mark in the 5,000 meters. Women's distance coach Patrick Shane said the meet was a chance to experiment and give some of the athletes a chance to try some different events.

One athlete trying a new event was All-American Michaela Mannova. Mannova ran the 5,000 meters in 17:12.32. The race marked the first time she has competed in almost a year. Shane said the race gave him an opportunity to find out what kind of shape the former national champion is in.

Once finals are done, the Cougars will be in action during the Robison Invitational at Clarence Robison Track on BYU campus.

PROVO -- The BYU track and field teams will use the giant Mt. San Antonio College Relays in Walnut, Calif. to tune-up before returning home for the Robison Invitational next weekend.

The Mt. SAC Relays will feature more than 15,000 athletes in all different levels of competition during the three-day meet. The Cougars will compete with many of the nation's top collegiate programs, including Arkansas, Stanford, Florida and Texas Tech.

The Cougars are also scheduled to compete in Logan, Utah at the five-team Mark Faldmo Invitational on Saturday. This annual meet will feature athletes from BYU, Idaho State, Utah, Utah State and Weber State.

The No. 6 BYU women's team heads to the meets with 19 regional qualifying marks including top-10 national marks from Amy Menlove (long jump), Aneta Lemeisz and Heidi Magill (800 meters) and Chelsea Smith (10,000 meters).

The No. 16 men's team has 25 regional qualifying marks, including one by the 4x400 meter relay team. Bryan Lindsay (1,500 meters), Josh McAdams (3,000 meter steeplechase), Josh Rohatinsky (5,000 meters), Jake Garlick and Ben Gardner (400-meter hurdles), David Pendergrass (high jump), Trent Powell and Robison Pratt (pole vault) and Rodrigo Mendes (triple jump) currently hold top-10 national marks.

Competition begins Friday morning in California, going well into the night with the distance carnival. A few more Cougars will compete Saturday at Mt. SAC, while the Mark Faldmo Invitational is a one-day event.

Recaps of the meets can be found on www.byucougars.com.