Track Enters Midseason

PROVO -- The BYU women’s track team enters the midseason portion of its schedule this weekend, continuing to seek national success this Friday and Saturday at the Bronco (Boise) Invitational and University of Washington Invitational.

The Cougars, who are currently ranked No. 3 in the USTFCCCA Division I National Poll, are seeking more National qualifying marks this weekend. In the first three weeks, Mindy McClurkin, Kari Clark, Rachel Brooke Fisher and Nachelle Stewart have all provisionally qualified for a combined six events.

“This week we are really trying to get some good marks and improved performances, just like every week,” BYU head coach Craig Poole said. “We are trying to get our athletes ready and qualified for New York next weekend, which will be our first real scored meet and we want to do well on that stage.”

In Boise, BYU will face a wide range of competition from Utah State, Weber State, Utah, Eastern Oregon, Northwest Nazarene, Dordt College, Whitworth, College of Idaho, Treasure Valley Community College and Boise State. The sprinters, jumpers and some middle distance runners will attend the meet in Boise, while the distance squad will head to Seattle for the UW Invitational.

In Washington, the distance runners will be up against teams from Arizona, California, Cal State Northridge, Colorado, Idaho, Long Beach State, Oregon State, Portland State, UCLA, USC, UTEP and Washington, along with a host of other teams.

“In Seattle, our main goal is to qualify our distance medley relay team for nationals,” Poole said. “We are sending a lot of distance runners up to Washington and I really feel like we will come away with some great marks.”

The Bronco Invitational will commence at 9:15 a.m. MST on Saturday with the women’s weight throw and is scheduled to conclude at 3:05 p.m. MST with the men’s 4x400-meter relay. The UW Invitational will begin at 4:00 p.m. MST on Friday with the pentathlon 60-meter hurdles and will finish Saturday at 6:55 p.m. MST with the men’s 4x400-meter relay.