Braden Taylor | Posted: 27 May 2021 | Updated: 9 Jun 2021

Three Cougars punch tickets to Eugene on first day of NCAA West Prelims

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Cameron Bates - 2021 Regionals
Zach and Rick McWhorter - 2021 NCAA Regionals Conner Mantz - 2021 NCAA Regionals

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – BYU track and field's Cameron Bates, Conner Mantz and Zach McWhorter each advanced to the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in their respective events on the first day of the NCAA West Preliminary Round on Wednesday.

Bates was the first Cougar to earn his way to the national meet, placing in the top 12 of the men’s javelin. On his second toss of the day, the sophomore recorded a mark of 71.13m/233-4 to finish with the second-best throw of the competition to secure his qualifying spot. Bates is the first BYU men’s javelin thrower to advance to the championship meet since 2014.

Shortly after Bates punched his ticket, McWhorter guaranteed his spot at the NCAA Championships in the men’s pole vault. The two-time All-American and national runner-up at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Championships had to clear 5.45m/17-10.5 to clinch his position in the top 12. The last time BYU had a pole vaulter qualify for the outdoor championships was in 2015.

In the final event of the day, Mantz weathered an aggressive 10,000m race to give the BYU men’s team its third national qualifier of the day. The 2021 NCAA Cross Country Champion battled to the front of the pack before finishing third overall with a time of 29:10.91. The junior has now qualified for three consecutive outdoor championships in the 10,000m.

Along with three national qualifiers, the Cougars also had five athletes advance to their respective quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Three BYU 1500m runners moved on to Friday’s quarterfinal. All-American Lucas Bons finished in the top three of his heat to automatically qualify (3:43.47) and All-American Talem Franco won his heat to advance (3:45.42). After leading his heat a majority of the race, Aidan Troutner got tripped up from behind and fell to the ground. Following a successful protest, he automatically advances to Friday’s quarterfinal at 5:45 CDT.

In the men’s 400m, All-American Michael Bluth took second place in his heat with a time of 46.14 to advance to Friday’s final at 7:20 p.m. CDT. Colten Yardley ran a 50.60 in the 400m hurdles to finish second in his heat and move on to the quarterfinal at 7:55 p.m. on Friday.

Caleb Witsken came just short of advancing to the championship meet in the men’s pole vault with McWhorter. The All-American matched his outdoor personal record of 5.40m/17-8.5 and finished outside the top 12 due to missed attempts.

Elijah Armstrong ran a career-best 3:50.55 in the first round of the 1500m, coming short of moving on to the next round. However, he will have an opportunity to qualify for nationals on Friday in the 5000m.

Jesus Serrano ran a 51.46 to finish fourth in his heat of the 400m hurdles, just one spot outside of the automatic qualifying position. In the men’s 200m, Landon Maxfield clocked a season-best 20.97 and Dallin Draper ran a 21.53.

The Cougars had two other javelin throwers compete along with Bates. Michael Whittaker finished 22nd overall with a throw of 62.54m/205-2 while Max Tooley placed 33rd with a toss of 60.15m/197-4.

Connor Weaver and Michael Ottesen both joined Mantz in the 10,000m, finishing with times of 30:42.19 and 31:08.05. The duo will complete the 5K-10K double, racing in the 5000m on Friday at 8:30 p.m.

Complete Results

The BYU women’s team will open competition at the NCAA West Prelims on Thursday, May 27. The field events will begin at 1:30 p.m. with the women’s javelin while track events will start at 6 p.m. with the 100m hurdles. The meet will be streamed on SECN+ and team updates can be found on Twitter.

Wednesday, May 26 - Results

Event Athlete Mark Finish Next Up
Javelin (M) Cameron Bates 71.13m/233-4
 
2nd Final in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
Javelin (M) Michael Whittaker 62.54m/205-2 22nd DNQ
Javelin (M) Max Tooley 60.15m/197-4 33rd DNQ
Pole Vault (M) Zach McWhorter 5.45m/17-10.5 7th Final in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
Pole Vault (M) Caleb Witsken 5.40m/17-8.5 15th DNQ
1500m (M) Lucas Bons 3:43.47 3rd Quarterfinals on Saturday, May 28 at 11:45 a.m. CDT
1500m (M) Talem Franco 3:45.42 10th Quarterfinals on Saturday, May 28 at 11:45 a.m.
1500m (M) Aidan Troutner *4:03.13    *Automatically advanced following successful protest following tripping incident Quarterfinals on Saturday, May 28 at 11:45 a.m.
1500m (M) Elijah Armstrong 3:50.55 39th DNQ
400m (M) Michael Bluth 46.14 12th Quarterfinals on Saturday, May 28 at 1:20 p.m.
400H (M) Colten Yardley 50.60 9th Quarterfinals on Saturday, May 28 at 1:55 p.m.
400H (M) Jesus Serrano 51.47 30th DNQ
200m (M) Landon Maxfield 20.97 28th DNQ
200m (M) Dallin Draper 21.53 43rd DNQ
10,000m (M) Conner Mantz 29:10.91 3rd Final in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
10,000m (M) Connor Weaver 30:42.19 37th DNQ
10,000m (M) Michael Ottesen 31:08.05 44th DNQ

Thursday, May 27

Event Athlete Mark Finish Next Up
Javelin (W) Ashton Riner 46.50m/152-7 26th DNQ
Javelin (W) Payge Jauhiainen 46.44m/152-4 27th DNQ
Javelin (W) Libby Parkinson 45.83m/150-4 29th DNQ
Shot Put (W) Sierra Freeland 15.66m/51-4.5 28th DNQ
Shot Put (W) Gretchen Hoekstre 15.20m/49-10.5 38th DNQ
100H (W) Adaobi Tabugbo 13.58w 41st DNQ
1500m (W) Whittni Orton 4:16.16 1st Quarterfinals on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
1500m (W) Anna Camp-Bennett 4:18.68 8th Quarterfinals on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
1500m (W) Olivia Hoj Simister 4:18.85 9th Quarterfinals on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
1500m (W) Simone Plourde 4:18.95 10th Quarterfinals on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
1500m (W) Kate Hunter 4:21.03 15th Quarterfinals on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
1500m (W) Lauren Ellsworth-Barnes 4:21.45 16th Quarterfinals on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
1500m (W) Heather Hanson 4:30.88 36th DNQ
100m (W) Jaslyn Gardner 11.58 39th DNQ
800m (W) Anna Camp-Bennett 2:02.83 1st Quarterfinals on Saturday at 6:10 p.m.
800m (W) Claire Seymour 2:05.27 5th Quarterfinals on Saturday at 6:10 p.m.
800m (W) Alena Ellsworth 2:06.41 12th Quarterfinals on Saturday at 6:10 p.m.
800m (W) Meghan Hunter 2:12.98 45th DNQ
400H (W) Halley Folsom Walker 1:00.01 29th DNQ
400H (W) Kayla Perry 1:00.36 34th DNQ
10,000m (W) McKenna Lee Hansen 35:06.69 20th DNQ
10,000m (W) Aubrey Frentheway 35:09.67 22nd DNQ
10,000m (W) Haley Johnston 35:40.38 30th DNQ
10,000m (W) Anna Martin 36:43.39 37th DNQ

Friday, May 28

Event Athlete Mark Finish Next Up
High Jump (M) Jake Grimsman 2.11m/6-11 21st DNQ
High Jump (M) Jacob Veres 2.06m/6-9 25th DNQ
Discus (M) Dallin Shurts 56.34m/184-10  12th Final in Eugene, Oregon (June 9-12)
Triple Jump (M) Rickey Fantroy 15.92m/52-2.75 15th DNQ

Saturday, May 29

Time (CDT) Athletes (Seed) Event
11:30 a.m. BYU (No. 13)
- Michael Bluth
- Dallin Draper
- Landon Maxfield
- Andrew Stuart
Men's 4x100m
11:45 a.m. Lucas Bons
Talem Franco
Aidan Troutner 
Men's 1500m
1:00 p.m. Cierra Tidwell Allphin (No. 18)
Mayci Torgerson (No. 43)

Women's High Jump

1:20 p.m. Michael Bluth Men's 400m
1:30 p.m. Sable Lohmeier El-Bakri (No. 27)
Gretchen Hoekstre (No. 38)
Women's Discus
1:55 p.m. Colten Yardley Men's 400m Hurdles
3:15 p.m. BYU (No. 13)
- Michael Bluth
- Dallin Draper
- Landon Maxfield
- Colten Yardley
Men's 4x400m
3:45 p.m. Whittni Orton 
Olivia Hoj Simister 
Anna Camp-Bennett 
Kate Hunter 
Simone Plourde 
Lauren Ellsworth-Barnes

Women's 1500m
(Quarterfinals)

4:10 p.m. Garrett Marsing (No. 3)
Clayson Shumway (No. 8)
Matt Owens (No. 16)
Adam Wood (No. 19)
Kramer Morton (No. 29)
Men's Steeplechase
4:45 p.m. Courtney Wayment (No. 1)
Sara Musselman (No. 18)
Lexy Halladay (No. 23)
Meri Dunford (No. 28)
Madi Moffitt (No. 42)
Women's 3000m Steeplechase
6:10 p.m. Anna Camp-Bennett
Alena Ellsworth  
Claire Seymour 
Women's 800m (Quarterfinals)
7:05 p.m. Casey Clinger (No. 6)
Brandon Garnica (No. 7)
Easton Allred (No. 38)
Michael Ottesen (No. 44)
Elijah Armstrong (No. 45)
Connor Weaver (No. 46)
Men's 5000m
7:50 p.m. Whittni Orton (No. 1)

Women's 5000m

8:35 p.m.

BYU (No. 15)
- Alena Ellsworth
- Lauren Ellsworth-Barnes
- Meghan Hunter
- Claire Seymour

Women's 4x400m