By Lindsey Johnson
The women”s track team returns this weekend, Feb 7-8, from the Mountain State Games held at the Holt Arena in Pocatello, Idaho.
Although the Cougars did not have anyone qualify for nationals this weekend, head coach Craig Poole said it was a step up from last weekend”s meet.
“It went well for us. I thought we competed more competitively than we have in the past,” Poole said. “We also had a number of personal bests and improvements.
Aneta Lemiesz ran the second fastest BYU 800-meter time this season, finishing in 2:12.72.
“I hope next week will be better so I can qualify for nationals in March,” Lemiesz said.
Lindsey Sommer, sophomore from Claremont, Calif. added a first-place finish in the triple jump.
Freshman Liis Berendsen also performed well in the triple jump, with a personal best of 37-00 1/4.
This was only the second time Berendsen has competed in the triple jump.
“My goal is to do well in the pentathlon next week and at conference so I can qualify,” Berendsen said.
Candace Clifford, a sophomore high jumper from Glendale, Ariz. also had a good performance.
“Candace probably had the best jump day, jumping at higher heights,” Poole said. “She jumped at provisional qualifying and almost had it.”
Clifford ended up second with a jump of 5-7 00 but also said that her jumps at 5-9 3/4 were decent.
“We almost provisionally qualified, so we”re getting better and getting there,” Clifford said. “Next weekend in Nebraska should be really good.”
In the women”s pole vault, Alicia Thompson, Tora McMullin and Kierstin Schvaneveldt posted personal best marks of 10-06.
The women”s 4×400-meter relay team also posted a season-best time of 46.43.
In the 400-meter invitational, sophomore Jennifer Rockwell earned a second-place finish with a time of 55.66.
For the first time this season, the Cougars competed in the pentathlon.
“The pentathlon went well,” Poole said. “For the first time competing in the pentathlon we did okay.”
Angela Benson and Shalice Pugmire also added fifth and sixth-place finishes in the mile invitational.
BYU strength coach Tiffany Lott-Hogan also did very well competing unattached.
Coach Poole said the 55-meter hurdles were also an overall improvement.
“Over the next three weeks we”ll do a lot more qualifying,” Poole said.
So far, the women”s team has had three athletes and the distance medley team post provisional qualifying marks.
Michaela Mannova qualified in the mile run, Katie Martin in the 3000-meter run and Nikki Hughes in the long jump.
Coach Poole is looking forward to next weekend”s meet in Lincoln, Neb. where he expects more athletes to qualify for nationals.
