SAN DIEGO -- With one day remaining at the 2007 Mountain West Conference Men's & Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Cougars hold a commanding lead in both the men's and women's team competitions.
Through eight events in the women's competition, the Cougars registered 101 points, marking the most points ever entering the final day of competition. Colorado State is in second place with 64 points, while San Diego State is in third with 45 points. New Mexico is in fourth with 40 points and Utah is in fifth with 21.5 points. TCU is in sixth with 14 points, Wyoming holds seventh place with 12 points, Air Force is in eight with 11.5 points and UNLV rounds out the field with 3 points.
"We've had some athletes step up and do the job," BYU women's head coach Craig Poole said. "We're pleased with the overall performance. We've had some surprises that have really helped us out. Tomorrow looks pretty bright for us."
Through seven events, the BYU men's team leads the field with 69 points, followed by Air Force with 58 points and Colorado State in third with 57 points. Wyoming is fourth with 50 points and New Mexico is fifth with 19 points. TCU rounds out the pack in fifth place with 19 points.
The MWC Outdoor Track & Field Championships will continue on Saturday at San Diego State with field events beginning at noon and running events starting at 12:30 p.m. (PDT).
WOMEN'S HIGH JUMP (Trials & Finals)
In her first high jump competition ever, sophomore MIndy Neeley recorded a regional qualifying mark in the high jump to finish second behind New Mexico's Tiyana Peters. Both competitors cleared 5-08.75; however, Peters was determined the winner because she had fewer overall attempts. Junior Sarah Lacey finished third in the event with a clearance of 5-07.00. Lacey finished sixth in the heptathlon on Thursday. During the multi-event competition, she cleared 5-05,75. The Cougars picked up 14 points in the event to move into second place in the team standings with 18 points.
WOMEN'S 3,000-METER STEEPLECHASE (Finals)
Amy Fowler
In the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, the BYU women dominated the event, taking the top four positions -- all turning in NCAA qualifying marks. After finishing fourth in the event last season, sophomore Amy Fowler turned in a time of 10:26.09 to win the title in 2007. Senior Kassie Andersen, who holds the Mountain West Conference record in the event, finished second with a time of 10:28.90, earning a trip to the NCAA Championships. Sophomore Katie Bowen finished third with a time of 10:34.79 while junior Tawny Bybee finished fourth in a season-best time of 10:39.20. With the 1-2-3-4 finish, the Cougars picked up 37 points to take the lead in the team competition.
MEN'S 3000-METER STEEPLECHASE (Finals)
Junior Chandler Goodwin held off Wyoming's Philemon Tanui down the home stretch to finish second in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase with an NCAA qualifying time of 8:59.97. Teammate Derek Taylor finished fourth with a time of 9:11.47 and freshman Jacob Cosby finished fifth in a time of 9:12.77. Freshman Ryan Merriman finished 12th in the event with a time of 9:42.64. The Cougars picked up 17 points to overtake Wyoming for first place in the team competition with 27 points.
MEN'S JAVELIN (Trials & Finals)
Skyler McDonald
The Cougars continued to hold the lead in the overall team competition with a fifth- and eighth-place finish in the javelin. Freshman Skyler McDonald recorded a season-best throw of 196-02 to earn four team points while sophomore Justin Palmer recorded one team point with an eighth-place finish. Palmer also recorded a season-long with a mark of 182-01. Senior Kevin Keys finished 10th with a mark of 164-02.
MEN'S LONG JUMP (Trials & Finals)
Senior Boian Marinov finished second in the long jump with a distance of 23-01.25. Sophomore Justin Palmer finished fourth, equalling his season-best mark of 22-11.25. Through five events, the Cougars hold a one-point lead over Colorado State in the team competition, 45-44.
MEN'S HIGH JUMP (Trials & Finals)
In the men's high jump, senior David Pendergrass won his third straight Mountain West Conference championship with a mark of 7-02.50, equaling his season-best mark. Pendergrass, ranked 10th nationally, has qualified for the NCAA regional meet. Juniors Bryce Bergen and Ammon Dahl finished second and third, respectively, giving the Cougars a 1-2-3 finish in the event. Bergen cleared an NCAA regional qualifying and season-high mark of 7-00.50 while Dahl cleared 6-08.75. Through six events, the BYU men led Wyoming, 69-50, in the team competition.
WOMEN'S POLE VAULT (Trials & Finals)
Ashley McCallister
The Cougars continued to outdistance the field in the women's team competition, picking up another 22 points in the women's pole vault. Junior Ashley McCallister won the event with an NCAA Regional qualifying and season-best mark of 13-04.50. Senior Kelly Furr also had a season-high mark of 13.04.50 to finish second. Senior Makenzie Iorg cleared 12-09.50 to finish fifth. Through four scored events, the BYU women led the team competition with 69 points. San Diego State is in second with 27 points.
WOMEN'S JAVELIN (Trials & Finals)
Sarah Lancaster
The Cougars tallied 13 more team points in the javelin, recording third-, fifth- and sixth-place finishes. Sophomore Sara Lancaster finished third with a distance of 147-02 in the event, followed by senior Tiffany Arrhenius in fifth with a throw of 142-05 and Piret Kuresson in sixth with a distance of 138-04. Sarah Lacey finished ninth with a throw of 126-00. Through five events, the BYU women held an 82-33 lead over second place New Mexico.
WOMEN'S HAMMER (Trials & Finals)
Junior Tipaleli Fotu finished fourth in the women's hammer, recording a mark of 174-05. Fotu's performance added five points to the Cougars' point total, giving BYU 87 points through six events. Colorado State was in second with 43.
WOMEN'S LONG JUMP (Trials & Finals)
Mindy Neeley
Sophomore Mindy Neeley recorded a mark of 19-06.00 in the long jump to finish sixth in the event. She added three points to the Cougars' overall team score, giving the team a 37-point lead over second place Colorado State through seven events.
WOMEN'S 10,000 METERS (Finals)
Jenna Jensen and Amber Duffin
In the final event of the afternoon, sophomore Amber Duffin turned in a strong finish to take second in the 10,000 meters with a time of 36:24.57. Freshman Jenna Jensen finished sixth with a season-best time of 36:36.37. All totaled, the Cougars picked up 11 points in the event to take a 37-point lead over Colorado State in the team standings.
MEN'S 110-METER HURDLES (Qualifying)
Three Cougars managed to advance to Saturday's finals in the 110-meter hurdles after turning in three of the top six times in the two qualifying heats. Senior Nate Rencher had the second fastest overall qualifying time with a mark of 14.48. He finished first in the first heat. Senior Jacob Garlick was second in the second heat with a time of 14.63 and Justin Palmer was fourth in the second heat with a season-best time of 14.89.
WOMEN'S 100-METER HURDLES (Qualifying)
Kelly Furr
Seniors Kelly Furr and Jennifer Grossarth advanced to Saturday's finals in the women's 100-meter hurdles with times of 14.10 and 14.14, respectively. With her season-best time, Furr had the second fastest time in the second heat, while Grossarth finished third in Heat 2. Overall, the two seniors will enter the finals with the sixth and seventh fastest qualifying times.
MEN'S 400 METERS (Qualifying)
Sophomore Chris Carter advanced to Saturday's final in the 400-meters after a third-place finish in the second of two heats. Carter turned in a safe time of 48.52 to qualify. CSU junior Drew Morano had the top qualifying time in the event, running a NCAA Regional qualifying time of 46.15.
WOMEN'S 800 METERS (Qualifying)
Heidi Houle
Four Cougars qualified in the 800 meters to set up a BYU-dominate field for Saturday's final. Sophomore Heidi Houle won her heat in a conservative time of 2:10.42 to automatically qualify for the finals. Sophomore Angela Wagner finished second in Heat 1 with an NCAA Regional and season-best time of 2:08.49. Junior Michelle Turner also qualified, finishing second in Heat 2 with a time of 2:10.51. Freshman Stacy Slight finished fourth in Heat 2 with a time of 2:11.01, recording the ninth and final qualifying time.
MEN'S 400-METER HURDLES (Qualifying)
Like the women's 800 meters, four Cougars also qualified for Saturday's finals in the men's 400-meter hurdles. Seniors Stig Robertson and Nate Rencher turned in the fourth (53.11) and fifth (53.48) fastest qualifying times on Friday, while senior Jackob Garlick will enter Saturday's final with the seventh fastest time of 53.80. Freshman Lance Walker qualified for Saturday's competition with a time of 54.95.
WOMEN'S 400-METER HURDLES (Qualifying)
Jennifer Grossarth
Senior Jennifer Grossarth finished second in Heat 1 of the women's 400-meter hurdles. Grossarth qualified for Saturday's final with an NCAA Regional qualifying time of 58.99. Sophomore teammate Sandra Mazan had the fifth fastest qualifying time, clocking in with a regional qualifying time of 59.50.