Five Cougars come up short of advancing to finals at U.S. Olympic Trials

Whittni Orton at 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships

EUGENE, Ore. – Five athletes with ties to the BYU track and field program came close to advancing to their respective finals at the U.S. Olympic Trials on Saturday at Hayward Field.

Whittni Orton and Anna Camp-Bennett both finished eighth overall in the women’s 1500m semifinals. Orton completed the race in 4:10.70 to finish 14th overall and just two spots away from advancing to the final. Camp-Bennett, the 1500m national champion at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships, ran a 4:12.05 to finish 16th overall.

Cameron Bates finished 14th overall in the qualifying round of the men’s javelin competition with a throw of 67.55m/221-7. Like Orton, he missed advancing to the final by two spots as well.

Abraham Alvarado clocked a 1:47.46 in the semifinals of the men’s 800m to finish eighth in his heat and 14th overall. He will return to action on Thursday in the first round of the men’s 1500m.

In the qualifying round of the men’s pole vault, Zach McWhorter cleared 5.40m/17-8.5 before missing the next three attempts at 5.50m/18-0 to finish tied for 19th.

The Cougars still have 12 current/former athletes who have yet to begin competition at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. A schedule specific to BYU’s athletes can be found on byucougars.com. Broadcast information, live results and start lists can be found on usatf.org.

BYU Men - U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifiers

Name	Event	Qualifying Mark	Status [Round Reached, Place, Time/Mark]
#Abraham Alvarado	800m	1:46.15*	DNQ [Semifinals, 14th place, 1:47.46]
#Abraham Alvarado	1500m	3:36.82*	DNQ [First Round, 29th place, 1:47.88]
Cameron Bates	Javelin	77.17m/253-2	DNQ [Qualifying Round, 14th place, 67.55m/221-7]
#Zach Blackham	High Jump	2.20m/7-2.5	DNQ [Qualifying Round, T-17th place, 2.14m/7-0.25]
Michael Bluth	400m	45.13*	DNQ [First Round, 20th place, 46.05]
Casey Clinger	5000m	13:24.90*	DNQ [Final, 12th place, 13:50.20]
Talem Franco	1500m	3:37.55	DNQ [Semifinals, 21st place, 3:46.37]
Conner Mantz	5000m	13:24.78*	DNQ [Final, 8th place, 13:32.69]
Conner Mantz	10,000m	27:41.16*	DNQ [Final Round, 5th place, 27:59.37]
Garrett Marsing	Steeplechase	8:31.54*	DNQ [First Round, 25th place, 8:53.37]
Zach McWhorter	Pole Vault	5.80m/19-0.25*	DNQ [Qualifying Round, T-19th place, 5.40m/17-8.5]
Colten Yardley	400m Hurdles	50.04	DNQ [First Round, 22nd place, 52.32]

*Met USATF Qualifying Standard
#BYU track and field alumni

BYU Women - U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifiers

Name	Event	Qualifying Mark	Status [Round Reached, Place, Time/Mark]
Anna Camp-Bennett	1500m	4:08.58	DNQ [Semifinals, 16th place, 4:12.05]
Lauren Ellsworth-Barnes	800m	2:02.49*	DNQ [First Round, 36th place, 2:05.59]
#Makenna Myler	10,000m	32:02.62*	DNQ [Final, 14th place, 32:44.72]
Whittni Orton	1500m	4:09.31	DNQ [Semifinals, 14th place, 4:10.70]
Whittni Orton	5000m	15:12.91*	DNQ [First Round, DNS, DNS]
Ashton Riner	Javelin	57.31m/188-0	DNQ [First Round, 20th place, 46.73m/153-3]
Claire Seymour	800m	2:01.91*	DNQ [First Round, 38th place, 2:06.67]
Courtney Wayment	Steeplechase	9:31.37*	DNQ [Final, 4th place, 9:23.09]

*Met USATF Qualifying Standard
#BYU track and field alumni