Cougars Eighth After First Day of NCAA Championships

FAYETTEVILLE -- After day one of the NCAA Indoor Championships, the BYU women's track team is tied for eighth with Colorado, ending the day with 11 points and three All-America honors.

Senior All-American Tara Northcutt finished in 16:13.99 to place fourth in the 5000 meter for the Cougars first points of the competition, ending a stellar career at BYU. Lindsey Thomsen also scored for the Cougars in the 5000, finishing eighth in 16:26.89 to earn a second All-America citation in the event. Devra Vierkant also ran in the 5000, covering the distance in 16:37.57 for an 11th-place finish.

BYU's final points of the meet came in the women's distance medley, where scored five points for the Cougars with a fourth-place finish, rounding out the Cougars All-America honors for day one. Andrea Combs ran the 400-meter leg of the relay, Holly Haguewood ran the 800, Jamie Cottle took the 1200 and Michaela Manova completed the relay for the Cougars in the mile.

Manova is one of three Cougar women who will be in action on the final day of competition as she competes in the 3000-meter run. Lindsey Steele and Candace Clifford will look to score for BYU in the long jump as the Cougars look to improve on their first day of competition.

Other BYU action on the day came in the men's long jump, where sophomore Aron Szmuda had a leap of 24-09.75 (7.56m) to finish 10th in the event. Jeff Hansen will strive to pick up some points for the Cougar men as he competes in the pole vault.

For complete results from the first day of competition and updated results throughout the day Saturday, go to http://www.uark.edu/depts/wathinfo/championship/2002ncaaindoor.html.

- BYU -