By Kinohi Manning
Nine division I schools, one winner.
At the first big women”s track meet of the year, BYU overwhelmed the competition at the Minnesota Invitational, winning eight events in the collegiate division.
Not only did BYU set two meet records but also easily won the meet by 17 points.
Four Cougars met National Collegiate Athletic Association provisional qualifying times, and senior Kirsten Bolm met the NCAA automatic qualifying time.
With an NCAA provisional qualifying time, Senior All-American Sharolyn Shields-Thayer won the mile run in a time of 4 minutes 48.14 seconds.
Courtney Meldrum recorded another provisional mark with 9 minutes 37.55 seconds in the 3,000-meter run, second to unattached Jenny Crain.
Finishing behind Crain in the 5,000-meter run, senior All-American Elizabeth Jackson (16 minutes 29.27 seconds) and senior Tara Northcutt (16:35.62) took second and third. Both recorded provisional marks as well.
In the preliminary round of the 60-meter hurdles Bolm set a meet record and met the NCAA automatic qualifying time of 8.34 seconds.
She went on to win the event in the final. Bolm also won the long jump.
The BYU distance medley relay team won with a time of 11 minutes 49.96 seconds.
Senior Melanie Steere won the 800 meters, and senior Analee Carter cleared five-feet-seven-inches in the high jump.
Several Cougars also ran at the Wilson Motor Open in Logan.
BYU women took the top two places in the 3,000 meters.
Senior Melody Sheppard came in first, with senior Marie Hodson in second.
The next stop for the Cougars will be the Mountain States Invitational in Pocatello, Idaho on Friday, February 2.
