Track Finds Success in Boise and Washington

PROVO -- The BYU women’s track team was in action in two locations this weekend, and found success at both the Washington Invitational in Seattle and the Bronco Invitational in Boise.

The distance portion of the team competed in Washington, and achieved five provisional qualifying marks. Sophomore Lacey Cramer, sophomore Nachelle Stewart and senior Angela Wagner all qualified in the 800-meters. Cramer placed first (2:05.19), with Stewart (2:05.27) coming in a close second, while Wagner came finished fifth (2:06.48).

Cramer, Wagner and Stewart also competed on the distance medley relay team, along with sophomore Natalie Stewart. The team posted a provisional qualifying time of 11:17.12, which, at the time it was achieved, ranked as the best time in the nation.

“I was really excited to get an eight-hundred under me,” said Cramer. “But I was a little bit nervous for the DMR because I had never run a 1200-meter race before. But it was a really nice track and I am exited for the rest of the season.”

Back in Boise, the rest of the team continued to improve and prepare for the rest of the season. Senior Mindy McClurkin continued her dominance in the sprint events, winning the 60-meter dash (7.55) and the 200-meter dash (23.81). Junior

Porshe Giddings finished second to McClurkin in both sprint events, running the 60-meters in 7.66 and the 200-meters in 24.81. Junior Ashleigh Jameson also placed in the top three of the 200, finishing third in 25.04.

“We had a great meet here in Boise, to go along with the great meet we had in Washington,” coach Craig Poole said. “Everyone here did really well, and it went as well as we could have hoped. It was a tough week of practice leading up to this weekend, and everyone did really well and there were a few pleasant surprises.”

BYU took three of the top five spots in the 60-meter hurdles. Senior All-American Amy Otis won the event in 8.60. Junior Mindy Robins finished in second in 8.68, with sophomore Fatima Makakala coming in fourth with a time of 8.76.

The Cougars also took three of the top five spots in the high jump, with sophomore Ada Robinson winning the event with a mark of 5-08.00. Sophomore Diana Blauer came in third at 5-06.00, and freshman Taylor Stapley nabbed third with a jump of 5-02.25.

Another strength for the Cougars was the pole vault, where they swept the top three places. Senior Kari Clark finished first with a vault of 13-07.25, and freshman Rachel Brooke Fisher grabbed second at 13-07.25. Both heights were provisional qualifying marks. Christine Botteron wrapped up the top three with a vault of 12-01.50.