AUSTIN -- Four Cougars advancing to the quarterfinals in the 800 meters highlighted day one for the BYU women at the NCAA Track and Field West Preliminary on Thursday. Competition resumes on Friday with several athletes looking to make their mark.

“Today went well,” women’s head coach Craig Poole said. “It’s very tough competition with the best athletes in the west here. Kari did very well in the pole vault to qualify for nationals in Eugene. Mindy ran well in the 100 meters and was able to advance. All four of our 800 meter runners did well and advanced. We’re proud of all our athletes. Friday is a big day with Mindy competing in three events and the 800 final. We have high hopes that several will make it to Eugene.”

Angela Wagner (1st), Nachelle Stewart (9th), Lacey Cramer (12th) and Nicole Clark (19th) were among the top 24 that will compete Friday for 12 spots to advance to the NCAA Championships. Mindy McClurkin also advanced to the quarterfinals in the 100 meters.

Kari Clark is the first member of the BYU women’s team to punch her ticket to nationals as she tied for the highest mark of the day in the pole vault.

Friday will be a busy day for McClurkin, who will compete in the 100 meter quarterfinals, the long jump and the 200 meter preliminaries. The four 800 meter qualifiers will compete on Friday for a top 12 spot to advance to the NCAA Championships.

Also competing Friday are Porshe Giddings in the 200 meters and Katy Andrews and Katie Bowen in the 3000 meter steeplechase.

See the list below for the athlete’s marks from Thursday. CLICK HERE for complete results.

Rank  Name                Event           Mark
 26   Alyssa Christensen  400m hurdles    1:00.36
  4   Kari Clark*         Pole Vault      4.20mq     13-09.25
 26   Katie Palmer-Cox    1500m           4:26.80
 35   Candace Eddy        1500m           4:32.60
 46   Sarah Edwards       1500m           4:40.60
 20   Mindy McClurkin@    100m            11.75q 
 38   Porshe Giddings     100m            12.03
 27   Natalie Stewart     400m            54.54
  1   Angela Wagner@      800m            2:05.58Q
  9   Nachelle Stewart@   800m            2:07.26Q
 12   Lacey Cramer@       800m            2:08.31Q
 19   Nicole Clark@       800m            2:07.62q
 15   Allyson Wardell     Javelin         47.06m     154-05
 39   Sarah Lancaster     Javelin         39.78m     130-06
*Qualified for NCAA National Championships in Eugene, Ore.
@Advanced to final 24 at West Preliminary

PROVO -- BYU will travel to the campus of University of Texas in Austin for the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary that runs Thursday through Saturday. The men enter the preliminary at No. 11 in the nation while the women are No. 16.

The three-day event features the top 48 athletes and 24 relay teams in each event in the west region. The top 12 finishers in each event advance to the final NCAA meet in Eugene, Ore., June 9-12. The East Preliminary is held this weekend in Greensboro, N.C.

BYU is among the top programs in the country in terms of entries in the preliminaries. The men tied for fourth-most in the nation with 27 entries in 26 individual events and one relay. The women are tied for second-most with 28 entries in 27 individual events and one relay.

On the men’s side, nine athletes have 10 top 10 qualifying marks. Ryan Waite has the highest ranking on the team at No. 3 in the West in the 800m. Three other runners are in the top 10 in their respective events, including Brian Weirich (No. 7), Richard Nelson (No. 7) and Jonathan Kotter (No. 9).

Several field athletes have top 10 marks, including thrower Leif Arrhenius at No. 5 in both the shot put and the discus. Chris Reno and Sean Richardson are both top 10 in the javelin with Reno at No. 6 and Richardson at No. 9. Chris Little is No. 5 in the west in pole vault.

Six women are top 10 in the west, including Mindy McClurkin in the 200m (No. 8) and the long jump (No. 2). Lacey Cramer is the top qualifier in the west in the 800m and Angela Wagner is right behind at No. 2. Nachelle Stewart’s No. 5 ranking gives BYU three athletes in the top five in the 800m. Ada Robinson is the Cougars’ sixth top 10 qualifier with a No. 6 ranking in the high jump.

Follow the action online via the following links:

Live results

Watch Thursday’s Action

Watch Friday’s Action

Watch Saturday’s Action

Click on the links below for the complete list of qualifiers for the West Preliminary

Men

Women