After months of fast times, broken records and conference titles, the postseason path now narrows for BYU track and field.
The Cougars headed to Fayetteville, Arkansas this week for the NCAA West Preliminary Round, where athletes will compete for a chance to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
The meet began Wednesday and will finish Saturday at John McDonnell Field, with BYU entering one of its deepest and most balanced postseason groups in recent years.
BYU earned 26 entries on the men’s side alone, including four or more competitors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and 400-meter hurdles.
The week opens Wednesday with javelin throwers Carson Riner and Brinton Paulson. Riner enters the regional ranked No. 20 in the West after placing fourth at the Big 12 Championships, while Paulson sits No. 36.
Distance events could once again become BYU’s strength.
Freshman standout Tayvon Kitchen enters the 5,000 meters ranked fifth nationally after setting a BYU school record of 13:16.27 earlier this season at the Bryan Clay Invitational. He’ll be joined by Creed Thompson, Hunter Kitchen and Joey Nokes in one of the meet’s most competitive fields.
Creed Thompson will also headline the 10,000 meters after capturing the Big 12 title earlier this month. His brother Davin Thompson, Dalton Mortensen and Hunter Kitchen are also set to compete.
The steeplechase may be BYU’s deepest event group. Olympian James Corrigan returns alongside Garrett Stanford, Max Davis, Jefferson McMullin, and Isaac Hedengren. Corrigan enters ranked No. 27 in the region, while Hedengren sits 11th.
Another athlete to watch is Carter Cutting, who has built momentum throughout the outdoor season. Earlier this month, Cutting stormed from behind to win the Big 12 title in the 1500 meters, adding to a season that already included a facility-record performance at the Robison Invitational.
In the field events, freshman Mark Bryant enters the discus ranked No. 22 in the West after throwing 58.08 meters at the Big 12 Championships for a runner-up finish. Pole vaulter Silas Zimmerman also qualified for the regional in his first collegiate season.
BYU’s 4x400-meter relay team enters the meet ranked ninth in the West and could become another key national qualifier for the Cougars.
The NCAA West Preliminary Round serves as the final qualifying meet before nationals, with the top 12 athletes in each event advancing to Eugene in June.
For a BYU team that has spent the spring piling up conference championships, school records and national-caliber performances, this week is about one thing: earning a spot on college track and field’s biggest stage.