Cramer and Palmer Strike Again

WALNUT -- Lacey Cramer, Katie Palmer and the BYU women’s track team continued their season’s success at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., and the Mark Faldmo Invitational in Logan, Utah on Saturday.

Mt. SAC Relays

“Overall, this was a great meet,” said BYU distance coach Patrick Shane. “This was a good experience for us and we had some fantastic performances.”

Cramer and Palmer’s performances have been fantastic all season long, but the duo raised the bar once again, setting new personal records in the 800-meter event.

Cramer, the 800-meter indoor National Champion, took second on Saturday with an NCAA Regional qualifying time of 2:03.01. The freshman’s time is a Mountain West Conference record, the second fastest time in school history and currently the second best time in the nation.

Cramer finished second only to last year’s National Champion Gina Gall of Michigan, who clocked a nation’s fastest time of 2:02.69.

“It could have been the National Championship race,” Shane said. “Both Lacey and Katie ran phenomenal. It was incredibly fun to watch.”

Palmer also ran at a blistering pace taking fourth in the 800-meter event with an NCAA Regional qualifying time of 2:03.26. Her time ranks second in the MWC record books, second in school history and fourth in the nation.

Another NCAA Regional qualifying performance came from All-American Mindy Neeley in the long jump. Neeley took third in the event with a jump of 21-00.00. Her mark currently places her second on the MWC descending order list and fifth in the nation.

Neeley’s success continued in the 200-meter event with a regional qualifying time of 23.96, placing her eighth on the BYU all-time record list. Her second place performance is a personal record and currently the MWC best time.

Mark Faldmo Invitational

While many of the women’s track athletes were competing at the Mt. SAC Relays, other team members were representing BYU at the Mark Faldmo Invitational in Logan, Utah.

“We had many solid performances,” said BYU pole vault coach Erik Rasmussen. “It was a very encouraging meet and we are looking forward to competing at our home track this weekend.”

Christen Botteron set the tone early for the Cougars placing first in the pole vault event (12-00.00). Her season’s best mark currently ranks seventh in the conference standings.

Kelly Marcroft also took first for BYU. Marcroft’s mark in the triple jump (37-01.00) ties a personal record she set earlier in the season.

The throwing squad had several peak performances as well. Sharrisa Thayer recorded a personal best in the shot put (44-05.50), placing her second in the meet standings.

Tiana Ili finished right behind Thayer, taking third in the shot put event (43-06.50). Ili continued to compete at a high level in the discus throw, where she took third with a season’s best throw of 147-06.00.

Another season best and personal best mark came from Rebecca Gorden. Gorden finished third in the javelin throw (127-11.00), catapulting her into the top ten of the conference standings.

The Cougars return home to compete at the Clarence F. Robison Track for the BYU Robison Invitational beginning on Wednesday, April 22, 2009.

Day One Recap