Track Looks To Build Momentum in Upcoming Meets

PROVO -- The BYU track teams will be splitting up for the first time this season as they head to the Washington Invitational and Boise State Invitational on Friday and Saturday.

“I’m really excited,” men’s head coach Mark Robison said. “This should be a huge weekend for us.”

Big things are expected for the distance team who will be running at sea level for the first time this season. Junior Miles Batty has one of the top mile times in the country at 4:03.79 while also holding the top mark in the NCAA’s in the 800-meter with a 1:49.10. Junior Justin Hedin isn’t far behind with the third best time at 1:50.04.

This meet will also mark the first time that Phillip Bettis will compete in the heptathlon. Bettis was the MWC Indoor champ for both 2009 and 2010.

A few other athletes are nursing some minor injuries so the entire group won’t be competing but the team should still fair well this weekend.

On the women's side, the distance squad, including All-American Lacey Bleazard, will head to Washington to compete against top teams from Oregon and California, along with several others. The distance medley relay team, an event the Cougars have qualified for Nationals each of the last two seasons, will compete for the first time.

Senior Porshe Giddings will lead the BYU sprinters and jumpers at the meet in Boise. Giddings currently holds the fastest 200m time in the Mountain West Conference and also holds the second-fastest 60m time in the conference.

Events begin Friday at 9 a.m. MT and live results can be found at gohuskies.com and broncosports.com. Complete meet results will also be posted following the conclusion of the meet on Saturday evening.