AUSTIN -- Leif Arrhenius qualified for nationals in the discus on Saturday as BYU men’s track and field concluded competition at the NCAA West Preliminary. Arrhenius is one of eight Cougars to earn NCAA Championship qualifying marks during the three-day preliminary.

“Everyone competed well and several of our guys did better than they were ranked,” BYU men’s coach Mark Robison said. “To have eight athletes qualify for nationals is a great accomplishment. Even more exciting is that all eight have a chance to be an All-American.”

Arrhenius tossed the discus 57.39 meters (188-03) on Saturday to take sixth place. He is one of six BYU throwers to qualify for nationals and is the only to qualify in two events. Arrhenius also qualified in the shot put, finishing sixth in the west.

Other Cougars competing Saturday included Daniel Lawson (19th) in the discus, Alden Bahr (29th) and Brandon Hebbert (35th) in the 5000 meters, Kyle Mills (40th) in the triple jump and the 4x400 meter relay team (20th) that consisted of Bryan Payne, Derek McCallister, Ryan Waite and Rhyan Atrice.

The NCAA National Championships will be held June 9-12 in Eugene, Ore.

See the list below for the athlete’s marks from Saturday and a list of the BYU’s 2010 NCAA Championship qualifiers. CLICK HERE for complete results.

CLICK HERE to review Friday’s action.

CLICK HERE to review Thursday’s action.

Saturday's Results
Rank  Name                Event           Mark
  6   Leif Arrhenius*     Discus          57.39mq    188-03
 19   Daniel Lawson       Discus          52.33m     171-08
 29   Alden Bahr          5000m           14:39.19 
 35   Brandon Hebbert     5000m           14:51.30
 20   Brigham Young       4x400 Relay     3:10.17
 40   Kyle Mills          Triple Jump     14.71m     48-03.25
*Qualified for NCAA National Championships in Eugene, Ore.
BYU Men's Track and Field 2010 NCAA Championship Qualifiers
Rank  Name                Event           Mark
 10   Sean Richardson     Javelin         67.09mq    220-01
 11   Blaine Baker        Javelin         66.72mq    218-11
 12   Chris Reno          Javelin         65.51mq    214-11
  6   Leif Arrhenius      Shot put        18.11mq    59-05.00
  6   Leif Arrhenius      Discus          57.39mq    188-03
  7   Chris Little        Pole Vault      5.30mq     17-04.50
  6   Oliver Whaley       Hammer Throw    64.09mq    210-03
  4   Ryan Waite          800m            1:46.83Q 
  1   Richard Nelson      Steeplechase    8:45.76Q

PROVO -- BYU will travel to the campus of University of Texas in Austin for the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary that runs Thursday through Saturday. The men enter the preliminary at No. 11 in the nation while the women are No. 16.

The three-day event features the top 48 athletes and 24 relay teams in each event in the west region. The top 12 finishers in each event advance to the final NCAA meet in Eugene, Ore., June 9-12. The East Preliminary is held this weekend in Greensboro, N.C.

BYU is among the top programs in the country in terms of entries in the preliminaries. The men tied for fourth-most in the nation with 27 entries in 26 individual events and one relay. The women are tied for second-most with 28 entries in 27 individual events and one relay.

On the men’s side, nine athletes have 10 top 10 qualifying marks. Ryan Waite has the highest ranking on the team at No. 3 in the West in the 800m. Three other runners are in the top 10 in their respective events, including Brian Weirich (No. 7), Richard Nelson (No. 7) and Jonathan Kotter (No. 9).

Several field athletes have top 10 marks, including thrower Leif Arrhenius at No. 5 in both the shot put and the discus. Chris Reno and Sean Richardson are both top 10 in the javelin with Reno at No. 6 and Richardson at No. 9. Chris Little is No. 5 in the west in pole vault.

Six women are top 10 in the west, including Mindy McClurkin in the 200m (No. 8) and the long jump (No. 2). Lacey Cramer is the top qualifier in the west in the 800m and Angela Wagner is right behind at No. 2. Nachelle Stewart’s No. 5 ranking gives BYU three athletes in the top five in the 800m. Ada Robinson is the Cougars’ sixth top 10 qualifier with a No. 6 ranking in the high jump.

Follow the action online via the following links:

Live results

Watch Thursday’s Action

Watch Friday’s Action

Watch Saturday’s Action

Click on the links below for the complete list of qualifiers for the West Preliminary

Men

Women