NEW YORK -- The BYU women’s track team proved why they rank No. 3 in the country this weekend with a strong second place team finish at the New Balance Invitational in New York City.

“This was an outstanding meet for our team,” women’s head coach Craig Poole said. “Our entire coaching staff is very pleased with our overall performance. Every part of our team contributed this weekend, and it was one of the best meets of the year.”

Senior Mindy McClurkin headlined the Cougar team, as she placed third in the 200-meters (23.80) and led a strong comeback in the 4x200-meter relay to earn a first place finish in 1:38.64. These accolades, along with her long jump (6.44m) victory yesterday, earned McClurkin Athlete of the Meet honors.

Also contributing first place points to the BYU team total was sophomore All-American Lacey Cramer, who won her second 800-meter race in as many weeks. Cramer finished the race in 2:05.33, and was followed closely by teammates Angela Wagner in fourth (2:07.14) and Nachelle Stewart in fifth (2:08.38).

Another victory for the Cougars came in the 4x800-meter relay, featuring freshman Michelanne Laurent, Ashlee Thomas, Nicole Clark and freshman Lisa Drury. The team won the event in 8:47.76.

BYU also found success the field events, with sophomore Ada Robinson placing third in the high jump at 1.78-meters. Senior Tipaleli Fotu also contributed, as she finished fourth in the weight throw with a distance of 18.17-meters.

The Cougars led the meet in team points until the final event of the day, when defending national champion Texas A&M took the lead by two points after a third place finish in the 4x400-meter relay.

“Any time you are up there competing with teams like Texas A&M for the win, you know you are in a good place,” Poole said. “We were right there in the lead until the last event, but A&M won with class and did very well.”

The No. 3 ranked Cougars will continue their season next weekend in their last meet before the MWC Championships, with a split team heading to the Air Force Open in Colorado Springs and the Husky Invitational in Seattle, Washington.

PROVO -- In the final weeks before the Mountain West Conference Championships, the BYU track teams will compete in the premier meet of the season this weekend at the New Balance Invitational in New York City.

“This is one of the great track meets in North America,” BYU women’s head coach Craig Poole said. “As far as a collegiate meet, everybody who is anybody is here. The competition is unbelievably strong, but it should be exciting and I expect us to get a lot of qualifying marks.”

The women’s team takes its No. 3 ranking into New York expecting to continue its national success against top competition. The men’s team looks to continue improving and will build off the success of last week’s Washington Invitational.

This meet is one of the first scored meets of the season and the Cougars will look to do well on an individual and team level to prepare for the conference and national championships.

“They do score this meet and we have set our alignment up so people are in position to score as much as possible,” Poole said. “Going up against teams like Texas A&M and Oregon makes scoring a bit more difficult, but we should do well.”

A portion of both teams will also be heading to Pocatello, Idaho for the Mountain States Games to compete against teams from Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, Utah, Utah Valley, Weber State and Southern Utah.

More than 100 schools are slated to compete in New York and the meet will begin Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. MST with the women’s shot put and is scheduled to conclude at 3:47 p.m. MST on Saturday with the men’s 1600-meter relay.

The Mountain States Games will begin at 12:00 p.m. MST on Friday with the men’s heptathlon 60-meter dash and will finish with the 1600-meter relay on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. MST.

CLICK HERE for a webcast and live results from the New Balance Invitational.