Cottle Breaks School Record; Seven Total Earn All-America Honors

SACRAMENTO -- On the final day of competition at the 2003 NCAA Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif., three more Cougars earned All-America honors, while senior Jaime Cottle, who ran in her final collegiate competition, set a new BYU record in the 1,500 meters.

Cottle made the most of her final performance in a BYU uniform, earning All-America honors in the 1,500 meters with a school-record performance, clipping Susan Taylor's three-year old record by nearly two seconds. Cottle finished seventh in a personal-best time of 4:11.67.

"Today was bitter-sweet," Cottle said. "I was a little sad coming to the track today, knowing it was going to be my last race. I really didn't know what to expect, but I wanted to run smart, and do my best. I guess breaking the school record is a good way to go out. At least people will remember me for a little while.

"Before I came to the track, Coach Shane told me to go out and run with my heart and leave my head at the hotel. I tried to do that. This whole weekend, I feel like I have competed a little outside myself. I'm excited to end my career like this."

With 400 meters remaining, Cottle found herself in 10th place. At the 300-meter mark, she kicked up the pace and reeled in a couple competitors. With 100 meters left, the native of Howell, Mich., grabbed another gear and passed the Pac-10 champion, Stanford's Malindi Elmore, to finish seventh overall.

"I kicked in to fifth gear with 300 meters left, but still needed a little more," Cottle said. "So, with about 100 meters left, I dropped down to sixth gear and was able to move in to seventh and get the school record."

After competing in three races in the past four days, junior Aneta Lemeisz completed the weekend with a seventh-place finish in the 800 meters to earn All-America honors and recorded her fifth straight PR in the event, 2:04.03. Saturday's time marks the third fastest time in BYU women's track history.

"It was a faster race then I thought," Lemiesz said. "The first 200 meters was really fast. I knew I had to stay with them, but the last 200 meters, I just didn't have it. I'm happy though. I know I can run faster, and I will keep working on this event. I'll be faster next year. But, for this year, I'm pretty happy."

Lemeisz, who originally qualified in the event with a time of 2:05.30, and was ranked 15th entering the competition, shaved over one second off her time during a series of three different races at the NCAA championships, including the qualifying round, preliminaries and finals.

Sophomore Lindsey Metcalf cleared 5-10.5 to finish fifth in the high jump, earning All-America honors for the second straight season. Metcalf earned an All-America citation as a freshman, finishing seventh last season in Baton Rouge.

"Even though I'm happy with my performance at nationals," Metcalf said. "I really wanted to clear the six-foot mark this season. I wish I could have done it this weekend."

Metcalf cleared the opening height of 5-08.75 on her first attempt, and followed that with a first-attempt clearance at 5-10.5. However, at the next height, 6-0.00, Metcalf failed to clear the bar on three straight attempts.

During the four-day competition, a total of seven BYU athletes earned All-America honors, including Trent Powell (pole vault), Chad Simkins (800m), Cassie Andersen (steeplechase), Lisa Antonelli (steeplechase), Aneta Lemiesz (800m), Jamie Cottle (1,500m) and Lindsey Metcalf (high jump).