WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Cougars won the men’s distance medley relay (DMR), running a potential national-qualifying time at the JDR DMR Invitational on Friday. 

“Our mission was accomplished," BYU head coach Ed Eyestone said. "We brought our men’s DMR team with the goal of qualifying. We ended up winning the race against some very good teams that traditionally make it in. There was another meet that took place in Notre Dame. Only two of the teams that weren’t ahead of us ran faster than us there. That puts us at No. 6 and 12 teams make it, so I think we’re safe. Things can happen at the conference meet, but most of the teams that have individuals capable of qualifying, have already done it.”

On Friday, Matt Owens, Colten Yardley, Michael Bluth and Talem Franco clocked 9:38.02 to win the men’s DMR on a 200m flat track. The squad is hoping to earn a national-qualifying time after the NCAA 7.8-second conversion that is given for competing on a flat track. 

Matt Owens started things off with a time of 2:59.56 in the 1200m leg before handing the baton off to Colten Yardley who ran the 400m in 48.23. Michael Bluth completed the 800m leg in 1:51.06 and Talem Franco completed the race as the 1600m anchor in 3:59.17. 

The NCAA grants the top 12 teams in the DMR a spot at Indoor Nationals on Friday, Mar. 13, and Saturday, Mar. 14.

"I was very impressed with the way the DMR team came together and stuck around the track," Eyestone said. "Talem ran an awesome final leg to move us up for the win. Our converted time will be 9:30.28."

Saturday’s competition included performances from Ransom Allphin in the men’s 60m hurdles and 400m and Garrett Marsing in the men’s 3000m. Allphin placed third out of 33 overall in his first collegiate 400m with a time of 50.19. Marsing won the men’s 3000m after crossing the finish line at 8:14.60. 

BYU track and field will travel back to Seattle for the Mountain Sports Federation Indoor Championships on Friday, Feb. 28, and Saturday, Feb. 29, at the Dempsey Indoor Track Arena. Meet information will be available on the BYU track and field schedule page two days before the meet. 

Official results for the JDR DMR Invitational can be found here.

PROVO, Utah – Members of the BYU men’s track and field team will gear up to compete at the JDL DMR Invitational in North Carolina this weekend as their last meet before conference championships. Events will begin Friday, Feb. 21, and continue through Saturday, Feb. 22.

“This weekend we’re taking a good group of men to the JDL Fast Track, which has provided a lot of the distance medley relay qualifiers in the past couple years,” BYU head coach Ed Eyestone said. “One of the reasons for that is because they get good teams together. Another reason is that it’s a 200m flat track so the NCAA gives them a 7.8-second allowance. That conversion can help us in getting a national-qualifying time.”

Competition for the Cougars will be headlined by the men’s distance medley relay (DMR) squad, featuring Talem Franco, Matt Owens, Michael Bluth and Colten Yardley. All four athletes have exhibited strong performances this season. 

“I think we have the horses to get it done,” Eyestone said. “Talem Franco has shown he’s capable of running a 3:58 open mile, which will convert well. Matt Owens has come on strong this season and will be a good 1200m leg for us. Michael Bluth is stretching himself as he’s had fun experimenting with the 800m this season. Colten Yardley running the 400m for us will be very fast.” 

Franco’s historic sub-four-minute mile (3:58.09) at the UW Invite placed him at No. 3 all-time on the BYU record board, behind Miles Batty and Doug Padilla. It was the first BYU sub-four-minute-mile since 2012.

Bluth ran a personal-best time of 1:50.63 in the 800m at the Dr. Sander Invitational. In addition to his showing in the 800m this season, Bluth won the 400m with a season-best 46.79 at the Nike Boise Invite. Bluth currently leads the Cougars this season in the 200m, 400m and 800m. 

Eyestone is looking forward to Owens’ upcoming performance after running a competitive 4:01.32 mile at the Husky Classic last weekend. 

Yardley has earned career bests in the 60m (11.13), 200m (21.77) and 400m (47.70) this season. 

“When you put these four men together, each running a solid leg, I think we have a nice chance of getting one of those top-12 marks,” Eyestone said. “The relays are different than the open events, so only 12 will go to Nationals. That’s our goal.”

Follow BYU track and field on Twitter and Instagram @BYUTFXC for team updates. Live results can be found on the BYU track and field schedule page on the day of the meet. The schedule of events and meet information can be found on jdlfasttrack.com