Lincoln, Neb. (Jan. 26, 2008) -- BYU junior Kyle Perry set the fastest mile time in the nation so far this season at the Conference Challenge on Saturday.
The Conference Challenge pitted three teams from the Mountain West Conference (BYU, Colorado State and Air Force) against three teams from the Big 12 (Nebraska, Kansas State and Missouri). The Big 12 won the meet, tallying 224 points to the MWC's 145 points.
Perry's mile time of 4:02.56 was good enough for a national provisional mark and the approval of men's head coach Mark Robison.
"Our distance athletes ran really well today, and what Kyle did today was very impressive for so early in the season," Robison said.
Other athletes on the men's side who performed well were seniors Derek Taylor and Matt Weirich.
Taylor, who won the 3000 meters with a time of 8:23.67, was another part of the dominating distance squad for the Cougars.
Weirich set a national provisional mark in the pole vault, clearing 17-05.75. Weirich's mark is the fifth highest in the nation so far this season and was a whole foot higher than any other mark at the meet.
On the women's side, a senior and two freshmen led the Cougars against the toughest competition the team has faced all season. Senior Ashley McAllister and freshmen Katie Palmer and Cecily Lemmon won their respective events.
McAllister, a pole vaulter from Fair Oaks, Calif., set a national provisional mark of 13-02.50. That mark is the fifth-best mark in the nation so far this season.
Palmer, from Boulder City, Nev., ran a 2:10.60 in the finals of the 800-meter run, beating all the other runners by a full three seconds.
Lemmon, from Vacaville, Calif., won the 3000 meters with a time of 9:45.73.
"We've got a really good group of freshmen, and we're really excited about that, " BYU women's coach Craig Poole said. "We've done really well today. The most important thing is we're learning how to compete. A lot of people have stepped up, and we're on the right track."
The Cougars will next be in action on Friday, Feb. 1, in Colorado Spring, Colo.