NORTHRIDGE -- After preliminary competition at the NCAA West Regional on Friday, a total of 11 BYU athletes, including three women and eight men, advanced to Saturday's finals at the Matador Track & Field Complex.
Following is an event-by-event recap of Friday's competition.
Women's Long Jump (Finals)
After qualifying for Saturday's finals in the 100-meter hurdles, Menlove finished second in the long jump with a distance of 20-02.5. With her performance, Menlove will advance to the NCAA National Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas in June.
"Amy has done a great job today," Poole said. "She has shown great concentration and shown she can handle the pressure. We're very pleased with her performance."
Women's 1,500 Meters (Prelims)
Super freshman Julie Cameron, who entered the competition with the second fastest time in the first heat, was in third place and battling to move up with 100 meters remaining. Cameron put the hammer down with 50 meters remaining and edged out Washington's Lindsey Egerdahl to finish second in a time of 4:29.05 and advance to Saturday's final.
Boxed in by the competition, Cameron showed veteran poise as she waited for the perfect moment to make her move.
"I felt a little boxed in during the first two laps," Cameron said. "As soon as I felt the pace slowing, I started to move out. It was just a matter of being patient and waiting for the right time to make a move."
"Julie ran a very smart race," Poole said. "She was very conservative and showed a great deal of maturity in her decisions. She did an excellent job."
Anne Heiner finished ninth in the second heat, 15th overall, in a time of 4:31.30.
Men's 1,500 Meters (Prelims)
After running in last place through the first 1,000 meters, Bryan Lindsay took the lead from teammate Nathan Robison with 350 meters remaining and held on to win the heat with a time of 3:46.35. Robison who was running on cruise control, eased in to a third-place finish with a qualifying time of 3:46.51. Both Robison and Lindsay advanced to Saturday's 1,500-meter final with the second and sixth fastest preliminary times, respectively.
"It's great to have two BYU guys out there in front," Lindsay said. "I was running in last, then started to move up. I just went for it and started to move up. When I pushed free, I felt good and just wanted to use my speed. I looked back with 200 meters to go and saw I had a pretty good lead."
Sophomore Dustin Trial finished 19th overall with a time of 3:52.30, while junior Doug Hall finished 20th with a time of 3:52.76.
Women's 100-meter Hurdles (Prelims)
In the first heat of the 100-meter hurdles, freshman Amy Menlove surprised herself and the field with a third-place finish to advance to Saturday's final in the event. Menlove turned in a personal-best time of 13.45 to record the sixth fastest overall qualifying time.
"That was a big PR, I'm really surprised," Menlove said. "My goal was to just go out there and not hit any hurdles. I'm really excited."
Men's 400 Meters (Prelims)
Junior David Chesser finished fifth in the first heat with a time of 47.35, while teammate Matt Rowe took fourth in the third heat with a time of 47.10. Both Chesser and Rowe did not qualify for Saturday's finals.
Men's 100 Meters (Prelims)
In the 100 meters, sophomore Nate Soelberg posted a time of 10.70 to finish fifth in the first heat. Soelberg's time ranked 10th overall, failing to qualify to Saturday's final.
Men's 800 Meters (Prelims)
Junior Lars Kjerengtroen advanced to Saturday's final after holding on for second place in the 800 meters with a lifetime best of 1:49.52. Chad Simkins, who was in third place after the first 400 meters dropped to fifth place at the line, finishing in a time of 1:50.08. With his performance, Simkins advanced to Saturday's finals as the seventh of nine finalists.
"I started out fast and stayed out in lane two," Kjerengtroen said. "There isn't a lot of time to make up for mistakes in this race, so I tried to keep from getting boxed in."
In the first heat, junior Scott Adams finished seventh with a time of 1:52.96.
Women's 400-meter Hurdles (Prelims)
In the first heat, Jennifer Rockwell-Grossarth was in third place at the final hurdle then shifted gears to pass Cal State Northridge's Comfort Agara to record a lifetime-best in the event. Rockwell-Grossarth finished second in the heat with a time of 58.53 to advance to Saturday's final with the fourth fastest qualifying time. Sophomore Anita Nygard finished sixth (17th overall) with a time of 1:02.49.
"I saw Agara stutter on the ninth hurdle and figured she would stutter on the tenth hurdle as well. That's when I decided I would go by her," Rockwell-Grossarth said. "When it comes to the last 40 meters, everyone is tired and you just have to get over that last hurdle and sprint for the finish line. She stuttered on the last hurdle and I knew I had her."
Men's 400-meter Hurdles (Prelims)
The Cougars will have three athletes in the final field of nine athletes in Saturday's final of the 400-meter hurdles. Senior Greg Flint posted the fourth fastest time with a mark of 51.10 in the first heat, while Kansas Whitear turned in a 51.54 to record the sixth fastest overall time. Ben Gardner also qualified with a time of 51.93, marking the eighth fastest overall time.
"I didn't have the best race of my life," Flint said. My goal was to advance to the finals, so I can't complain too much. Tomorrow's race is when it counts. I feel pretty good and will run a lot better tomorrow.
"It is quite and accomplishment and a tribute to our coach, Kyle Grossarth, to have all three guys advance to the finals."
Men's 200 Meters (Prelims)
Sophomore Paul Smith finished third in the first heat of the 200 meters with a time of 21.25. Smith will advance to Saturday's final with the fifth best overall time in the event.
Women's 5,000 Meters (Finals)
Junior Laura Turner earned a trip to the NCAA National Outdoor Championships after turning in a second-place finish in the 5,000 meters. Turner finished the event in a time of 16:08.25. Teammate Suzanna Logan finished sixth in a time of 16:29.06.
Women's Hammer (Finals)
In the women's hammer, senior Malita Bingham finished 34th with a mark of 151-09. Junior Chelsea Forsythe finished 36th with a distance of 144-03.
Men's Shot Put (Finals)
Battling injury, Niklas Arrhenius finished 23rd in the shot put with a distance of 48-01.75.