Cougars Prepare for MPSF Preview at UW Invite

PROVO, Utah — The BYU track & field team will compete at the University of Washington Invitational this Friday, Jan. 31 through Saturday, Feb. 1 in a preview of the MPSF Championships.

“This meet our middle-distance and distance squads will be competing in full force for the first time this season,” BYU head coach Ed Eyestone said. “We’re excited to be able to compete at full-strength as a team. It will also be an excellent opportunity for our throwers since the facilities at the university are stellar. We’re going to do everything we can to get our athletes national qualifying marks as well. This meet is sort of a preview for the MPSF Championships too.”

After Monday’s release from the USTFCCCA, the women's team is ranked No. 25 in the country after being named No. 34 to start the season. 

The Cougars will be competing against a field that includes No. 13 Washington (women’s), 20 Iowa State (men’s), No. 25/No. 18 Iowa (men’s/women’s), Washington State, Oregon State, UCLA, Utah, Cal, Arizona, Utah State, San Diego State and Boise State among others.

The men’s heptathlon and the women’s pentathlon begin on Friday as well as a mix of running and field events, including relays. Saturday will follow the same schedule as Friday.

Eyestone is excited to see the official traveling debut of the middle-distance and distance units who have not competed fully in a meet yet this season. He is excited to see Jacob Heslington compete in the 3000m as he attempts to qualify for the national meet. Talem Franco will try to break four minutes in the mile. His personal record in the race is 4:00.91. 

The head coach also anticipates continued success from the women’s distance team as Anna Camp-Bennett is currently ranked eighth in the nation in the women’s 800m. He also noted that the BYU throwers will be able to show in full force as well. Junior Sable Lohmeier recently moved up to No. 6 all-time at BYU in the women’s weight throw and Sierra Freeland is now No. 7 in the women’s shot put in Cougar history.

BYU currently has 10 athletes ranked in the top-25 in the country in their individual event: Whittni Orton is first in the women’s mile and third in the women’s 5000m, Brian Matthews is second in the men’s heptathlon, Zach McWhorter is third in the men’s pole vault, Michael Bluth is sixth in the men’s 300m, Camp-Bennett is eighth in the women’s 800m, Lauren Ellsworth is 17th in the women’s 800m, Caleb Witsken is 19th in the men’s heptathlon, Cierra Tidwell is 22nd in the women’s high jump, Lauren Rawlinson is 25th in the women’s 500m and Dallin Vorkink is 25th in the men’s heptathlon.

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 gohuskies.com.