Women’s track team prepares for WAC championships,

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    By RACHEL ANDERSON

    Shouts of encouragement and enthusiasm echoed amongst the BYU women’s track team as they competed their hearts out.

    The women’s head track coach Craig Poole said the meet was designed to be a “tune-up.”

    With 14 wins and several personal records, Poole said, they had good times and good marks.

    “We’re ready to go to conference and do well.”

    The team will leave Tuesday for Houston to compete at the Western Athletic Conference championships. With less than a week to prepare, the times earned at Wednesday’s meet were crucial. Beside conference times, Wednesday was their last opportunity to qualify for nationals.

    Becky Jackson, a pole vaulter who is ranked third in the nation, claimed that Wednesday was a “big turn-around meet.”

    “I’ve been in a slump for a month and a half, and now I’m on the uphill swing just in time,” Johnson said.

    Others seem to be competing at their best just in time as well. Amy Palmer threw a personal record of 170’3″ in the discus. She also won first in the hammer (215-10) and the shot put (55-1 1/2).

    “This meet will help us for the WAC; it’s a good mental preparation,” Palmer said.

    Jackson called it a confidence booster.

    Other firsts from the Cougars came from Jeana McDowell, who tied her PR in the high jump (5-11 1/4), Tiffany Lott in the javelin (165-7) and a PR in the 100-meter hurdles (13.02 seconds), Kirsten Bolm in the long jump (20-1), Angie Paulson in the 400-meter (56.26), and Jolee Gillespie in the 800-meter (2-minutes 13.46).

    Windy Jorgensen took the 100-meter (11.64) and the 200-meter (24.27), Angie Paulson won the 400-meter (56.26), Jolee Gillespie won the 800-meter (2:13.46), Elizabeth Jackson pulled ahead of an all BYU line-up in the steeple chase (10:49.49) and BYU swept in the 4×4 (3:50.34) and 4×1 (45.68) relays.

    Poole said the team will relax for three or four days, and then Monday they will go through a “stimulus” workout before leaving for the WAC championships. The women will return on Sunday from the WAC and begin training the next day for Nationals which will be held at the beginning of June.

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