PROVO -- The NCAA released its list of over 1,000 athletes who will be competing at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship meet in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 11 through June 14. Ten athletes from BYU have earned a trip to the National Championship meet, including seven automatic qualifiers and three others who were selected from an at-large pool.
In the women's competition, senior Carlee Clark-Platt will enter the 800 meters ranked 10th nationally with a season-best time of 2:04.89. Senior Ashley McAllister will compete in the pole vault after a fourth-place finish at the NCAA West Regionals. Sophomore Angela Wagner will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase after winning the 2008 West Region title last weekend in Northridge, Calif. Wagner is ranked fourth in the nation with a season-best time of 9:58.68.
On the men's side, after finishing 11th in the West Regional meet last weekend, Leir Arrhenius will represent the Cougars as an at-large selection. Arrhenius will enter the competition as the nation's top-ranked discus thrower, recording a mark of 207' 01" earlier this season. True freshman Chase Dalton will also make the trip to Des Moines as an at-large selection. Dalton registered a lifetime best in the javelin (218' 02") to earn the 25th best mark in the country.
Seniors Chandler Goodwin and Derek Taylor will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Goodwin finished third at the NCAA West Regionals last weekend, while Taylor finished fourth. Goodwin will enter the competition ranked 16th in the nation with a qualifying time of 8:47.81 and Taylor is ranked 17th with a time of 8:47.83.
Junior Kyle Perry, ranked 16th nationally, will compete in the 5,000 meters. Perry finished second at the NCAA West Regionals and has a season-best time of 13:54.06.
Finishing second in last weekends regional championship, Bob Low will represent BYU in the pole vault with a season-best mark of 17' 06.50". He'll enter the competition ranked ninth. Senior Matt Weirich finished seventh at the West Regional meet and earned an at-large invitation to the meet with a season-best mark in the pole vault of 17' 04.75". He is currently ranked 19th.
The championships will be held June 11-14 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. Drake University will serve as host.
NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PARTICIPANTS (Alphabetical)
Carlee Clark-Platt
Senior (Bozeman, Montana)
800 Meters (2:04.89; Ranks 10th Nationally)
Automatic Qualifier - Finished 4th NCAA West Regionals
Ashley McAllister
Senior (Fair Oaks, California)
Pole Vault (13' 07.75" ; Ranks T-15th Nationally)
Automatic Qualifier - Finished 4th NCAA West Regionals
Angela Wagner
Sophomore (Pretoria, South Africa)
3,000-meter Steeplechase (9:58.68; Ranks 4th Nationally)
Automatic Qualifier - Finished 1st NCAA West Regionals
Sophomore (Orem, Utah)
Discus (207' 01.00"; Ranks 1st Nationally)
At-large Qualifier - Finished 11th NCAA West Regionals
Freshman (Tigard, Oregon)
Javelin (218' 02.00"; Ranks 25th Nationally)
At-large Qualifier - Finished 7th NCAA West Regionals
Senior (Pleasant Grove, Utah)
3,000-meter Steeplechase (8:47.81; Ranks 16th Nationally)
Automatic Qualifier - Finished 3rd NCAA West Regionals
Bob Low
Junior (Provo, Utah)
Pole Vault (17' 06.50"; Ranks 9th Nationally)
Automatic Qualifier - Finished 2nd NCAA West Regionals
Junior (Sandy, Utah)
5,000 Meters (13:54.06; Ranks 16th Nationally)
Automatic Qualifier - Finished 2nd NCAA West Regionals
Senior (Portland, Oregon)
3,000-meter Steeplechase (8:47.83; Ranks 17th Nationally)
Automatic Qualifier - Finished 4th NCAA West Regionals
Senior (Fredericksburg, Texas)
Pole Vault (17' 04.75"; Ranks 19th Nationally)
At-large Qualifier - Finished 7th NCAA West Regionals