PROVO -- The 2004 track season comes with great anticipation and a returning cast of outstanding young talent. After a record setting 2003 season, the Cougars are back in action setting their sights to be a top-10 team both indoors and outdoors. This season's athletes may be the most talented group BYU track has seen in the past 15 years.
Despite the disqualification of the U.S. Olympic Oval track in Kearns, Utah the 2004 indoor schedule will provide the athletes with a tough schedule and prepare them for quality performances at Indoor Conference and Nationals in addition to their outdoor season.
This past summer BYU finished final repairs and construction changes to the outdoor track where they feel it is one of the finest outdoor facilities in the country. Men's head coach Mark Robison said, "We anticipate more changes in the future, but are optimistic for the upcoming season."
Last year, BYU men were ranked in the top five of the power rankings and feel this year they will be ranked even higher and will have a better showing at the NCAA regional meet at Cal State Northridge.
Some of the BYU strengths this year will include the 800m, pole vault, triple jump, shot and discus, decathlon, 400 hurdles and distance events.
Decathlon
Returning for the Cougars is senior Curtis Pugsley, who was the 2003 Mountain West Conference Champion. In 1999, Pugsley finished fifth at the NCAA Outdoors and fifth at the 2001 U.S. Indoor Nationals, but a hamstring injury kept him from competing in the 2002 season.
Senior Devin Scoresby, who is coming off of an outstanding 2003 season, narrowly missed qualifying for the NCAA championships last year with a lifetime best of more than 7,000 points. Additional athletes to watch include junior Devin Howe and freshmen Ben Millar and Chris Weirich.
Distance
This year's distance squad should be one of BYU's finest, returning three All-American from last year. Junior Chad Simkins ran 1:48.74 at the NCAA meet last year to earn his first All-American citation. Joining him in the 800 meter are juniors Scott Adams, Jeff Hopkinson, Lars Kjerengtroen and Jeff Taylor, who all ran under 1:50 in the 800m.
Cross Country and Indoor All-American Nathan Robison looks to improve on last year's performance when he ran an altitude-converted mile of 3:59.70. Joining him at middle distance will be All-American Bryan Lindsay.
Sophomore Josh Rohatinsky, who ran the 10,000m in 29:07.36, and junior Chad Durham will be positive contributors in the longer distances.
Junior Matt Adams and senior Rich Evanson will look to qualify for nationals in the steeplechase with sophomore Josh McAdams adding depth in the event. Overall, coach Ed Eyestone hopes to qualify more athletes for the NCAA Regionals than last year's impressive fleet.
Hurdles
Coming off last year's success, the hurdle crew returns three regional qualifiers led by senior Greg Flint who had a disappointing finish last year after running the second fastest 400IH time in the school's history.
The other two returning NCAA Regional qualifiers in the 400 hurdles are sophomore Ben Gardner and junior Kansas Whitear. Both are looking to improve upon last year's marks in the 400IH with Gardner additionally looking to reach regionals in the 100HH.
The Cougars will also look to senior Daymon Visser to finish out his college career well in both the high and intermediate hurdles. The team also anticipates the addition of sophomore Jacob Garlick, one of the best hurdlers to ever come out of the state of Utah.
Sprinters
Adding depth and experience to the team are the sprinters who are returning almost all of last year's regional qualifiers.
Senior Matt Rowe and junior David Chesser will both play a very vital role in the mile relay as well as in the open quarter. Sophomore Paul Smith and sophomore Nate Soelberg, the 2003 MWC 100m defending champion, will also make a tremendous impact on the 4X100 team this year.
Last year's younger runners have gained much more experience and plan to use that to help their performance this year.
"I am amazed at how much talent these kids have and how much they have gained in such a short period, and they are very ready to perform at this high level of competition," coach Leonard Myles-Miles said. "I would be delighted to see two or more of our relay teams qualify for NCAA Championships."
Throws
This season the Arrhenius' brothers will be a powerful one-two punch in the discus and shot put.
Senior Dan Arrhenius is coming off his best season at BYU in 2003. His younger brother, freshman Nic Arrhenius, was the best high school discus thrower ever to come out of the United States with a throw of 234' in high school. His senior year in high school he was second in the World Junior Championships. Nic will also compete in the hammer and the 35lb weight indoors.
Supporting the brothers will be junior John Forsythe and recently returned missionary sophomore Adam Pyne.
The Javelin group will be one of the best in many years with three athletes who have thrown over 200'. Matt Hickman, who was a NCAA regional qualifier last year, will be joined by two freshman throwers from Oregon, Skyler MacDonald and Matt Johnston, who were ranked 13th and 10th respectively in the nation.
Jumps
With the addition of Rodrigo Mendes the team will have an outstanding long jump, triple jump combination. Rodrigo a native of Brazil has jumped 55'1" in the triple jump, 24'6" in the long jump and 6'10" in the high jump. Coaches are anticipating him to be an All-American in the triple jump this season.
In addition to Rodrigo in the high jump, the team is excited to have Jon Willison, recently returned missionary who has a mark of 7'2.25", join them. In addition to Willison there are four other high jumpers that have reached 6'10" or better: Seniors Curtis Pugsley, Devin Scoresby, James Oman, and freshman Matt Allen.
Returning this season is also a tremendous field of vaulters lead by junior two-time All-American Trent Powell who placed third at Indoor Nationals and second at the NCAA meet in the outdoor season. Also returning is sophomore Robbie Pratt, the school record holder in the pole vault with a height of 18'3", and 2000 Sydney Olympian from Mexico.
Mark Barry, a 17'6" senior is eligible for indoors only and is pursuing his father's all-time top ten performance at BYU of 17'9".
Overall, the Cougars look for a record setting year with their phenomenal athletes. "This is the year to make things happen," Robison said, "Here comes BYU."