Source: USATF
By: Shawn Touney
USATF Communications Intern

INDIANAPOLIS - Fifteen-year old Michelle Carter, who set a national age
division record in the intermediate girl’s shot put this past weekend at the
USATF Youth Athletics National Championships in Decatur, Ill., has been named
USATF Athlete of the Week. Carter tossed the shot 14.99 meters/49 feet, 02.25
inches, breaking the record in her age division (15-16 year olds) by nearly
three feet. Earlier in the week, Carter won the discus with a throw of
43.73m/143-06.

For her performances, Carter was named Verizon Outstanding Female Athlete
of the Meet. She will be competing as one of 53 U.S. athletes at the 2001
IAAF World Youth Championships taking place in Debrecen, Hungary, July 12-15.
Carter will be throwing the shot at the international meet. To read a short
feature on Carter, visit the USATF web site at http://www.usatf.org/.

Other top performers last week included Maurice Greene, who equaled his
2001 world-leading mark in the men’s 100m by clocking a 9.90 at the Lausanne
Grand Prix. Other top marks at Lausanne included Jeff Hartwig (5.90m/19-4.25,
men’s pole vault, world leader), Tim Broe (7:39.45, men’s 3,000m, national
leader), Bryan Berryhill (3:35.56, men’s 1,500m, betters “A” standard for
World Championships), Angelo Taylor (47.95, men’s 400m hurdles, world
leader), Regina Jacobs (1:59.07, women’s 800m, national leader), and Jenny
Adams (12.68, women’s 100m hurdles, national leader).

At the Paris Grand Prix, Marion Jones ran the women’s 100m in a
world-leading time of 10.84. Other top marks at Paris included Allen Johnson
(13.15, men’s 110m hurdles, world leader), Seneca Lassiter (3:34.32, men’s
1,500m, betters “A” standard), and Suzy Favor Hamilton (4:02.64, women’s
1,500m, national leader).

At the Nice Grand Prix, Elizabeth Jackson set an American record in the
women’s 3,000m steeplechase, by running the event in 9:43.36. This marks the
fourth time this year that Jackson has broken the record.

At Madrid, Spain, David Krummenacker ran the 800m in 1:45.82, which
betters the “A” standard for the World Championships.

USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding
performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each Tuesday
and features the athlete on the USATF Web site. Selections are based on top
performances and results from the previous week.

2001 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 22, Alan Webb; January
29, Terrence Trammell; February 5, Stacy Dragila; February 12, Seneca
Lassiter; February 20, Stacy Dragila; February 27, Andrew Pierce; March 6,
Maurice Greene; March 14, Dawn Burrell: March 20, Ja’Warren Hooker; March 27,
Dathan Ritzenhein; April 3, Phillip Dunn; April 10, Relay Team of Maurice
Greene, Jon Drummond, Bernard Williams and Curtis Johnson; April 17, Rod
DeHaven; April 24, Elizabeth Jackson; May 1, Stacy Dragila; May 8, Meb
Keflezighi; May 15, Tyree Washington; May 22, Charles Clinger; May 29, Alan
Webb; June 5, Justin Gatlin; June 12, Stacy Dragila; June 19, Amy Linnen;
June 26, Regina Jacobs; July 3, Willie Banks; July 10, Michelle Carter.

TOP OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES, WEEK OF JULY 7

MEN’S 100 METERS
9.90 Maurice Greene at Lausanne Grand Prix (equals world leader)
9.96 Maurice Greene at Paris Grand Prix

MEN’S 200 METERS
20.27 Ramon Clay at Nice Grand Prix
Shawn Crawford at Nice Grand Prix
20.49 Joshua Johnson at Madrid, Spain

MEN’S 800 METERS
1:45.82 David Krummenacker at Madrid, Spain
(betters “A” standard)

MEN’S 1,000 METERS
2:17.26 Seneca Lassiter at Nice Grand Prix (national leader)

MEN’S 1,500 METERS
3:34:32 Seneca Lassiter at Paris Grand Prix (national leader)
(betters “A” standard)
3:35.56 Bryan Berryhill at Lausanne Grand Prix (national leader)
(betters “A: standard)
3:36.41 Bryan Berryhill at Madrid, Spain

MEN’S 3,000 METERS
7:39.45 Tim Broe at Lausanne Grand Prix (national leader)
7:41.67 Bob Kennedy at Nice Grand Prix

MEN’S 110-METERS HURDLES
13.15 Allen Johnson at Paris Grand Prix (world leader)
13.24 Terrence Trammell at Paris Grand Prix
13.25 Larry Wade at Lausanne Grand Prix

MEN’S 400-METERS HURDLES
47.95 Angelo Taylor at Lausanne Grand Prix (world leader)
48.10 Angelo Taylor at Paris Grand Prix

MEN’S HIGH JUMP
7-6.5 (2.30m) Charles Austin at USATF East Region

MEN’S POLE VAULT
19-4.25 (5.90m) Jeff Hartwig at Lausanne Grand Prix (equals world leader)
19-1.25 (5.82m) Jeff Hartwig at Nice Grand Prix
18-10.6 (5.75m) Nick Hysong at Nice Grand Prix
18-8.25 (5.70m) Lawrence Johnson at Paris Grand Prix
Lawrence Johnson at Lausanne Grand Prix

MEN’S LONG JUMP
27-2 (8.28m) Savante Stringfellow (Mississippi) at Lausanne Grand Prix
26-8.25 (8.13m) Dwight Phillips at Lausanne Grand Prix
26-6.5 (8.09m) Kevin Dilworth at Paris Grand Prix

MEN’S TRIPLE JUMP
54-8.75 (15.68m) Robert Howard at Madrid, Spain

MEN’S JAVELIN THROW
273-4 (83.32m) Breaux Greer at Lausanne Grand Prix
262-3 (79.94m) Breaux Greer at Paris Grand Prix
261-5 (79.71m) Breaux Greer at Nice Grand Prix

WOMEN’S 100 METERS
10.84 Marion Jones at Paris Grand Prix (world leader)
11.04 Marion Jones at Lausanne Grand Prix
11.25 Marion Jones at Nice Grand Prix

WOMEN’S 200 METERS
22.62 Kelli White at Nice Grand Prix

WOMEN’S 400 METERS
51.27 Monique Hennagan at Madrid, Spain

WOMEN’S 800 METERS
1:59.07 Regina Jacobs at Lausanne Grand Prix (national leader)
2:00.87 Regina Jacobs at Paris Grand Prix

WOMEN’S 1,000 METERS
2:36.47 Hazel Clark at Nice Grand Prix (national leader)

WOMEN’S 1,500 METERS
4:02.64 Suzy Favor Hamilton at Paris Grand Prix (national leader)
4:06.64 Sarah Schwald at Paris Grand Prix
(betters “A” standard)
4:06.69 Regina Jacobs at Nice Grand Prix

WOMEN’S 3,000 METERS
8:50.14 Elva Dryer at Lausanne Grand Prix

WOMEN’S 3,000-METERS STEEPLECHASE
9:43.36 Elizabeth Jackson at Nice Grand Prix (American record)

WOMEN’S 100-METERS HURDLES
12.68 Jenny Adams at Lausanne Grand Prix (national leader)
12.81 Jenny Adams at Paris Grand Prix
12.89 Jenny Adams at Nice Grand Prix

WOMEN’S 400-METERS HURDLES
55.33 Tonja Buford-Bailey at Paris Grand Prix

WOMEN’S HIGH JUMP
6-5 (1.96m) Amy Acuff at Paris Grand Prix
6-4.25 (1.94m) Amy Acuff at Lausanne Grand Prix

WOMEN’S POLE VAULT
15-1.75 (4.62m) Stacy Dragila at Nice Grand Prix

WOMENS’ TRIPLE JUMP
46-6.75 (14.19m) Yuliana Perez at Albuquerque, New Mexico
(betters “A” standard)

WOMEN’S HAMMER THROW
221-6 (67.53) Dawn Ellerbe at Paris Grand Prix

WOMEN’S JAVELIN THROW
181-1 (55.20m) Kim Kreiner at St. Gallen, Switzerland

Finals - Results - Saturday 06/23/01

PLACE ATHLETE NAME TEAM TIME PTS
===== ============================ ========================= ========== ===
1 Lisa Nye NIKE-Portland 9:49.41 H
2 Elizabeth Jackson Nike 9:49.94 M
3 Kelly MacDonald Arizona State 9:55.49 M
4 Nan Evans BYU 10:05.46 M
5 Katie Sabino North Carolina St 10:05.47 M
6 Kara Ormond Asics TC 10:06.78 M
7 Rebecca Bennion Weber State 10:07.56 M
8 Desiree Owen Unattached 10:11.45 M
9 Jennifer Michel Western State (CO) 10:11.65 M
10 Mollie DeFrancesco James Madison 10:12.24 M
11 Tonya Dodge Syracuse Chargers 10:17.61 M
12 Laura Turner Stanford 10:23.60
13 Deanna Hadley San Deigo TC 10:24.20
14 Melissa Bouren Unattached 10:36.58

By: Adam Jude
Source: Oregon Daily Emerald

All hail Title IX.

Thanks in large part to the 1972 legislation, which mandates gender equality in education and sports, NCAA female track athletes are now, like men, allowed to run around a circle, jump over a hurdle every 100 meters while soaking their feet in a small pond.

And after nearly two miles of running, jumping and bathing, the first person to cross the finish line gets the glory of an NCAA championship.

“I knew [winning] wasn’t going to be a given,” Brigham Young’s Elizabeth Jackson said after securing her place in the record books as the first champion of the women’s steeplechase Friday at Hayward Field. “If I was going to win, I knew I was going to have to work for it. All of the girls had really good times.”

Jackson broke her own American record in the 3,000-meter race with a time of 9:49.73. She also ran the fourth fastest steeplechase of all time.

“I think [the steeplechase] is still progressing,” Jackson said. “We’re going to see times in the 30s and 40s before too long.”

Rebecca Bennion, a sophomore at Weber State, finished second (9:54.84) and Arizona State’s Kelly MacDonald, a Tualatin native, (9:55.87) was third.

“I really enjoy it,” MacDonald said of running the steeplechase for just the fourth time, all in the last four weeks. “It gives me something to focus on besides counting laps. It’s more exciting. You have to have a mental toughness more than physical.”

Jackson said her legs were tired Thursday, a day after running a 10:11.94 preliminary. She questioned whether the NCAA should keep the preliminary time trials.

“I was so nervous before the race,” Jackson said. “I was like, ‘I don’t think I can do it.’”

The men’s steeplechase was tight throughout and came down to the final hurdle. Daniel Lincoln of Arkansas took the trophy in 8:42.31. Weber State’s Jeremy Tolman (8:42.85) was second and Colorado’s Steve Slattery (8:42.91) was third.

Ohio State’s Ian Connor was in the first pack heading into the final pass of the water pit and would likely have placed in the top three, but he fell in the pit and injured his leg. Connor was greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd as he limped the final 150 meters.

Source: New York Times

By JAMES DUNAWAY

Elizabeth Jackson of Brigham Young, a former professional ballet candidate, set an American record today in winning the first women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase held at the NCAA track and field championships in Eugene, Ore.

Jackson won by 30 meters in 9 minutes 49.73 seconds, breaking the mark of 9:55.63 she had set last month.

Jackson’s time is the fourth fastest ever run. The world record in the relatively new event for women is 9:40.20 by Cristina Casandra of Romania.

Bayano Kamani and Michael Smith of Baylor finished first and second in the men’s 400-meter hurdles. Kimani, a senior from Houston, regained the title he won in 1999 and missed winning by two-hundredths of a second last year. His 48.99 is the fastest by an American this year.

Otikule Lekote, a South Carolina sophomore from Botswana, never trailed in winning the men’s 800 meters in 1:46.68. In the women’s 800, Brigita Langerholc of Southern California and Slovenia won by 12 meters in 2:01.61.

Source: New York Times

By Marc Bloom

When Elizabeth Jackson traded her ballet slippers for racing spikes, she had no idea that her dance skills would enable her to set the pace in erasing the last gender barrier in track and field.

Jackson, a senior on the Brigham Young University track team and a former professional ballet candidate, took up a fledgling women’s event, the 3,000-meter steeplechase, only four years ago. The steeplechase, in which athletes hurdle 35 barriers, including seven over water jumps, in a race of about 1.9 miles, requires dexterity and coordination, rare qualities in distance running.

Women competed in the pole vault and the hammer throw at the Sydney Games last September and have had an Olympic marathon since 1984. But the steeplechase — the only Olympic track-and-field event for men that women have been denied to date — has had an unofficial status for women until this year and was often not scheduled at meets. Men have always had the steeplechase, which originated in England in the 1870’s.

Now Jackson, 23, will be the favorite in her specialty at the N.C.A.A. championships in Eugene, Ore., from today through Saturday. It is the first time the women’s steeplechase will be held in the N.C.A.A. meet, a status that has launched the event as a possible addition to the Olympic program for 2004 in Athens.

While the women’s steeplechase will not be run in this summer’s world track meet in Edmonton, Alberta, the event is under review for the next world outdoor championships in Paris in 2003, a press officer for the International Amateur Athletic Federation in Monte Carlo said. World championship status is needed for Olympic consideration. The event will be held in more than 24 European meets this season, and at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, in September.

Jackson hopes to run in Brisbane, where her nimble style would be tested in an Olympic-level field.

”Hurdling is leaping over a bar, and I did that all the time in ballet,” Jackson said. ”Coordination and flexibility from dance help me accelerate through the water jump.”

Jackson, a lithe 5 feet 7 1/2 inches, is so polished in her event that Patrick Shane, Brigham Young’s women’s coach and a steeplechase expert, said, ”Liz has the best water-jump technique of any woman I’ve seen.”

Ballet, which Jackson started at age 6 in Salt Lake City, nurtured her competitive fire. ”I absolutely loved the dance,” she said. By 13, Jackson had reached an elite level and was accepted into a program at the San Francisco Ballet School. Taking summer classes at the school fueled Jackson’s passion, but she decided against ballet life because it would have taken her away from home.

Jackson soon chose track, becoming a high school mile champion in Utah in 1996 and receiving an athletic scholarship to B.Y.U. Shane, who taught the American record-holder Henry Marsh the steeplechase, saw Jackson’s potential. Last year, Jackson won the event at the Olympic trials, setting an American record of 9 minutes 57.20 seconds.

The steeplechase drew fans’ attention and was compared with the women’s pole vault, now a marquee event. In a recent Runner’s World magazine Web site poll, 80 percent of respondents answered ”yes” to the question: ”Can the women’s steeplechase become as exciting as the women’s pole vault?”

The crux of the steeplechase is the water jump, 12 feet long for men and recommended by the I.A.A.F. to be about 10 1/2 feet for women. Competitors need power and timing to step on the hurdle with one foot and drive themselves forward and land at the water’s edge on the opposite foot. ”The chance for disaster coupled with aesthetic beauty makes the steeple popular,” Shane said.

The biggest hurdle for women may be the cost of new equipment. Women’s barriers, 30 inches high compared with 36 inches for men, have led manufacturers to create adjustable barriers costing as much as $10,000 for a set of five.

At B.Y.U., Jackson has eight teammates in the steeplechase, and the Cougars are expected to dominate the event in the N.C.A.A. meet. This season, the women’s steeplechase is scheduled at most collegiate conference meets and in a seven-meet USA Track & Field steeplechase tour capped by the national championships June 21-24 in Eugene. On May 18 at the Mountain West Conference meet, Jackson ran a 9:55.53 to break her American record.

At the N.C.A.A.’s, Jackson could be challenged by Arkansas’ Lilli Kleinmann, the Penn Relays winner in 10:01.52; Kleinmann took up the event this spring. ”I’ve been waiting 10 years for the steeple,” Kleinmann said. Both Jackson and Kleinmann could threaten the women’s world record of 9:43.64 set last year by Cristina Iloc-Casandra of Romania.

Just as women have cleared the 15-foot barrier in the pole vault, Shane said women would be steeplechasing in 9 minutes before long.

More important, women finally have a chance to thrive on the steeplechase’s appeal. ”It’s more fun,” Jackson said, ”to run over something than to run only in circles.”

Source: BYUCougars.com
By Jeff Reynolds, BYU Athletic Media Relations

16 BYU athletes, including five men and 11 women, have qualified to compete in a total of 18 events at the 2001 NCAA Track & Field Championships, beginning Wednesday May 30 through Saturday, June 2 at the University of Oregon in Eugene.

With four athletes qualified to compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the Cougars will look to score major points in the event. Leading the way for BYU will be American record-holder, Elizabeth Jackson, who is ranked first entering the event. The senior from Salt Lake City broker her own American record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Friday, May 18 at the Mountain West Conference Championships in San Diego, Calif., running the event in 9:55.63.

Jackson, one of two BYU athletes competing in multiple events, will also compete in the 5,000 meters. The seven-time All-American is ranked third entering the event with a season-best time of 15:50.52. Senior All-American Courtney Meldrum, who sat out the 1999 season after having a baby, has also qualified in two events, including the 5,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase. Freshman Maret Komarova, a native of Viljandi, Estonia, will compete in the heptathlon, entering the event as the highest-ranked freshman in the country with 5,414 points. Junior Jeana Bingham, who finished fourth in the high jump at the NCAA Championships last season, qualified again this year, ranked third with a season-best mark of 6′00.75″. Defending National Champion Tara Northcutt will defend her title in the 10,000 meters, having qualified with a second-ranked time of 33:27.59 in the event.

On the men’s side, senior Kenneth Andam will represent the Cougars in the 100 meters, ranked 8th in the event with a season-best time of 10.14. Junior Mao Tjiroze, a native of Windhook, Nambia, will be making his first-ever appearance at the NCAA Outdoor championships. Tjiroze automatically qualified in the 800 meters and is ranked 7th in the event after turning in a life-time best 1:47.28 at the Mountain West Conference Championships in San Diego. All-American Jeff Hansen will look to improve on his ninth-place finish in the pole vault at t last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships. Hansen will enter the event ranked 6th with a mark of 18′00.50″. Senior All-American Jim Roberts will be making his third appearance at the NCAA Championships in the shot put, enter the competition ranked 10th with a distance of 63′01.25″. Despite a nagging lower abdominal strain, All-American Curtis Pugsley will return for his second straight NCAA Outdoor Championship meet, ranked 8th in the decathlon with a season-best 7,519 points. Pugsley finished sixth at last year’s NCAA Championships with a personal best 7,531 points.

Senior Kirsten Bolm, who was a provisional qualifier in both the 100-meter hurdles and long jump will not compete at the NCAA Championships after returning to Germany to be with her grandfather who is recovering from a stroke. Super freshman Josh Rohatinsky, who would have qualified in the 10,000 meters, will not participate due to a stress fracture in his left leg.

		2001 NCAA Track & Field Championships
Participant List
Women              Rank     Event            Qualifying Time/Dist.
Jeana Bingham      3rd     High Jump              6'00.75"
Nan Evans          6th     3,000 M Steeplechase   10:08.85
Holly Haguewood    18th    800 M                  2:06.22
Tara Haynes        13th    3,000 M Steeplechase   10:17.39
Elizabeth Jackson  3rd     5,000 M                15:50.56
                   1st     3,000 M Steeplechase   9:55.63
Maret Komarova     20th    Heptathlon	             5,414 pts.
Courtney Meldrum   19th    5,000 M                16:12.45
                   10th    3,000 M                10:13.81
Tara Northcutt     2nd     10,000 M               33:27.59
Sharolyn Shields   12th    1,500 M                4:20.52
Lindsey Thomsen    11th    10,000 M               34:10.50
Missy Wood         18th    Javelin                157"08.00"

Men                Rank    Event            Qualifying Time/Dist.
Kenneth Andam      8th     100 M                 10.14
Jeff Hansen        6th     Pole Vault            18'00.50"
Curtis Pugsley     8th     Decathlon             7,519 pts.
Jim Roberts        10th    Shot Put              63"01.25"
Mao Tjiroze        7th     800 M                 1:47.28
		

Source: TheMWC.com

SAN DIEGO, California

The Brigham Young men’s and women’s teams were crowned 2001 Mountain West Conference Outdoor Track and Field Champions for the second straight year Saturday. The league meet was held at the Sports Deck on the San Diego State campus.

The Cougar women scored 229.83 points with Colorado State (164.33) and San Diego State (148) rounding out the top three. The Cougar men scored 240 points followed by Air Force with 182 and Colorado State (171). BYU has now won 19 straight women’s outdoor conference titles and 15 men’s outdoor titles in the last 18 years, including four straight.

Highlighting action on the women’s side was BYU’s strong competition in the distance events. The Cougars had a 1-2 finish in the 1,500-meters with seniors Courtney Meldrum (4:21.03) and Sharolyn Shields (4:22.31. Both those finishes are NCAA provisional marks. Meldrum’s finish is also a conference meet record. The Cougar’s Elizabeth Jackson, Tara Northcutt and Lindsay Thomsen finished 1-2-3 in the 5,000 meters. Jackson’s and Northcutt’s marks are provisional ones with Jackson’s also being a conference meet record. BYU’s Sarah Ellett took the 10,000 meters with a finish of 35:20.34

BYU’s Kirsten Bolm won the 100-meter low hurdles with a time of 13.23 followed by SDSU’s Davetta Shepherd who clocked in at 13:30. Both those times are NCAA provisional qualifying marks.

Colorado State’s Megan Addy raced to a NCAA provisional mark of 58.39 in the 400-meter low hurdles. New Mexico’s Monique Harris set a conference meet record in the women’s triple jump with a 41-07.00 leap.

On the men’s side Colorado State’s Rob Vermillion and Air Force’s Brian Carpenter earned NCAA provisional marks with 3:44.63 and 3:45.80 finishes in the 1,500-meter, respectively. Utah’s Taren Jameson set a conference meet record in the 5,000 meter with a time of 14:23.35.

Action in the men’s shot saw BYU All-American Jim Roberts earn a NCAA provisional and conference meet record mark of 61-5.50. A provisional qualifying mark was also set by Wyoming’s Jason Gervais in the discus as he threw 196-2.00. Gervais’ teammate Jason Hammond set a conference meet record with a toss of 214-2.00 in the hammer throw.

The Women’s Freshman of the Year was awarded to BYU’s Maret Komarova, with Air Force’s Anthony Park taking the honor on the men’s side.

SDSU’s Aja Frary won the Women’s High Point Award with a total of 30.5 points. The Men’s High Point Award went to BYU’s Kenneth Andam (22.5).

The meet’s Outstanding Performance award was given to BYU’s Elizabeth Jackson on the women’s side for the American record she set Friday in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (9:55.63). Colorado State’s Brian Berryhill was given the award on the men’s side following his performance in the 800 meters (1:46.03).

The Women’s Coach of the Year was given to SDSU’s Rahn Sheffield. Men’s Coach of the Year honors went to Air Force’s Ralph Lindeman.

2001 Mountain West Conference Outdoor Track Championship Awards

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
M-Anthony Park, AFA
W-Maret Komarova, BYU

HIGH POINT
M-Kenneth Andam, BYU
W-Aja Frary, SDSU

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
M-Bryan Berryhill, CSU (800m)
W-Elizabeth Jackson, BYU (3,000m Steeplechase)

COACH OF THE YEAR
M-Ralph Lindeman, AFA
W-Rahn Sheffield, SDSU

Mountain West Conference Outdoor Track Championship Records Set This Week

AMERICAN RECORD
BYU’s Elizabeth Jackson set a MWC and American record in 3,000 steeplechase 9:55.63

CONFERENCE MEET RECORDS

Women
Javelin Andrea Batt, WYO 168′8″ (5/18/01) 10,000 meter Sarah Ellett, BYU 35:20.34 (5/18/01)
3,000 meter Steeplechase Elizabeth Jackson, BYU 9:55.63 (5/18/01)
Discus Liz Toman, CSU 174′ 4″ (5/18/01)
1,500 meter Courtney Meldrum, BYU 4:21.03 (5/19/01)
5,000 meter Elizabeth Jackson, BYU 16:34.01 (5/19/01)
Long Jump (tied) Kirsten Bolm, BYU 20′ 10.5″ (5/19/01)
Triple Jump Monique Harris, UNM 41′ 7″ (5/19/01)
Shot Put Liz Toman, CSU 52′ 1″ (5/19/01)
Discus Liz Toman, CSU 174′ 4″ (5/19/01)
Javelin Andrea Batt, WYO 168′8″ (5/19/01)

Men
Javelin Dan Uffens, BYU 203′ 1″ (5/18/01) 10,000 meter Ben Ortega, UNM 30:02.00 (5/18/01)
1,500 meter Rob Vermillion, CSU 3:44.63 (5/19/01)
5,000 meter Teren Jameson, Utah 14:23.35 (5/19/01)
3,000 meter Steeplechase Shane Rogers, AFA 8:59.44 (5/18/01)

by Jeff Reynolds, BYU Athletic Media Relations

BYU senior Elizabeth Jackson turned in a 9:55.63 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to set an American record on Friday, cruising to an easy victory at the 2001 Mountain West Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships in San Diego. After day three, the BYU women, who have won 18 straight outdoor league championships, lead the field with 85 points, while the men are in third place with 41 total team points.
“Whenever I run, I always start out trying to set a new PR,” Jackson said. “It really was a tough race. I really didn’t feel very good, especially the last two laps. They were hard. Hopefully I will keep getting stronger and can continue dropping my time.”

The BYU women picked up 26 points in the steeplechase, with Jackson picking up 10 first-place points. Freshman Nan Evans recorded a personal best, 10:12.90, to take third, while senior Tara Haynes (10:17.39), Katie Martin (10:50.73) and Sherida Rogers (11:06.12) finished fourth, fifth and eighth respectively. The Cougars have qualified at least eight athletes for the NCAA National Championships. Jackson’s time shaved nearly two seconds off the previous American record of 9:57.20, which she previously set during the US Olympic Trials in Sacramento, Calif., last summer.

After taking second in the heptathlon earlier in the week, freshman Maret Komarova posted a personal-best 144′00″ in the javelin to pick up third-place honors in the event. Junior Carrie Sanders recorded a mark of 142′03″ to finish fourth for the Cougars.

Having to withdraw from the heptathlon on Thursday with lower back pain, BYU trainers worked throughout the day to get senior Kirsten Bolm ready for competition in the 100-meter hurdles, as well as the long jump. Bolm qualified for Saturday’s finals in the hurdles with a time of 13.46. Bolm also won her second straight MWC Outdoor long jump title with a mark of 20′10.50″. Sophomore Nikki Hughes recorded a career-best to finish second in the long jump, posting a provisional mark of 20′07.00″.

Sarah Ellett blew out the competition in the 10,000 meters, posting a conference meet record 35:20.34 in the event. Amy Bair finished fourth with a time of 35:33.00.

Four Cougars qualified for the 800-meter finals on Saturday, including Jamie Philburn (2:14.43), Holly Haguewood (2:14.59), Tara Haynes (2:14.89) and Nan Evans (2:16.22).

In men’s action, seniors Kenneth Andam and Thobias Akwenye advanced to the finals on Saturday in both the 100 and 200 meters. Andam won both the 100 and 200-meter preliminaries, including a 20.78 in the 200. Senior Slade Combs, who also qualified in the 110-meter hurdles, qualified for Saturday’s final in the 200. Both Akwenye and Combs qualified in the 200 with an identical 21.20.

Senior Chris Kemp turned in the top qualifying mark in the 400-intermediate hurdles with a heat-winning time of 52.03. Sophomore Daymon Visser also qualified for the finals with a 53.07 in the 400-meter hurdles.

In the 10,000 meters, senior John Hedengren came up just a little short, taking third place with a time of 30:17.61. Freshman favorite Josh Rohatinsky did not compete in the 10K with a sore ankle, but will continue to prepare for the NCAA National Championships in Eugene, Ore., after posting a qualifying mark of 29:07.36 at the Stanford Invitational on March 31.

BYU picked up 10 points in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, recording a third- and fifth-place finish in the event. Junior Tyler Bushnell took third with a season-best 9:04.10, while Trevor Pettingill also posted a season-best 9:09.51.

In the javelin, junior Dan Uffens outdistanced the field by nearly 10 feet, winning the event with a mark of 203′01.00″.

The Cougars will wrap things up tomorrow, competing in several final events throughout the day. For a complete schedule and results for the 2001 MWC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, please visit the Mountain West Conference website at: http://mountainwestconf.fansonly.com/sports/c-track/stats/051601.html

MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE Page 4
OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
San Diego, CA - Wednesday 05/16/01 to Saturday 05/19/01

COMPLETE RESULTS - ALL ROUNDS

Women’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase

C Conference: 9:59.50 Elizabeth Jackson, BYU 04/21/01
a NCAA Auto Qual: 10:20.00
p NCAA Prov Qual: 11:10.00

Finals - Results - Friday 05/18/01

PLACE ATHLETE NAME YR SCHOOL TIME PTS
===== ========================= == ========================= ========== ===
1 Elizabeth Jackson SR BYU 9:55.63 C 10
2 Meg Larson SO CSU 10:10.16 a 8
3 Nan Evans FR BYU 10:12.90 a 6
4 Tara Haynes SR BYU 10:17.39 a 5
5 Katie Martin FR BYU 10:50.73 p 4
6 Trina Bateman SO Utah 10:59.12 p 3
7 Erin Cunningham SR CSU 11:02.24 p 2
8 Sherida Rogers SO BYU 11:06.12 p 1
9 Jean Taylor FR Air Force 11:09.40 p
10 Jennifer Stakiw SO San Diego State 11:22.68
11 Lara Coppinger SO Air Force 11:24.85
12 Hillery Gemmill JR San Diego State 11:37.01
13 Stephanie Hanks Wyoming 11:41.29
14 Sophia Hawker SR San Diego State 11:47.14
15 Leslie Jackson FR Wyoming 11:59.80
16 Hannah Radzinski SO New Mexico 12:11.42

Elizabeth Jackson has been named USA Track and Field’s Athlete of the Week posting a world-leading time of 9 minutes, 59.50 seconds in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase at the Pomona Invitational.

A senior at Brigham Young University, Jackson is the current American record holder and collegiate record holder in the steeplechase. She also is the only American to break 10 minutes in the event. In addition to her sub-10 performance at Pomona, Jackson won the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials in a national-record time of 9:57.20.

The Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., was the site of several top performances over the weekend. Bernard Williams ran a time of 10.08 in the 100m, Tyree Washington posted 44.47 in the 400m and John Godina threw 21.35 meters/70 feet, 0.50 inches in the shot put. All three marks are the best in the world so far this year. Mt. SAC also saw top competition in the men’s pole vault, with Lawrence Johnson, Tim Mack and Russ Buller all clearing 19 feet, 0.75 inches.

USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each Tuesday and features the athlete on the USATF Web site. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.

2001 USATF Athlete of the Week Winners: January 22, Alan Webb; January 29, Terrence Trammell; February 5, Stacy Dragila; February 12, Seneca Lassiter; February 20, Stacy Dragila; February 27, Andrew Pierce; March 6, Maurice Greene; March 14, Dawn Burrell; March 20, Ja’Warren Hooker; March 27, Dathan Ritzenhein; April 3, Philip Dunn; April 10, Relay Team of Maurice Greene, Jon Drummond, Bernard Williams and Curtis Johnson; April 17, Rod DeHaven; April 24, Elizabeth Jackson.

TOP PERFORMANCES, WEEK OF APRIL 16-22

MEN’S 100 METERS
10.08 Bernard Williams, Mt. SAC Relays (world leader)

MEN’S 200 METERS
20.37 Marcus Brunson (Arizona State), Mt. SAC Relays

MEN’S 400 METERS
44.47 Tyree Washington, Mt. SAC Relays (world leader)

MEN’S 800 METERS
1:47.55 Khadevis Robinson, Mt. SAC Relays

MEN’S 3,000-METERS STEEPLECHASE
8:37.69 Steve Slattery (Colorado), Mt. SAC Relays

MEN’S 5,000 METERS
13:37.63 Jason Hubbard (Adams State), Mt. SAC Relays

MEN’S 10,000 METERS
28:32.37 Weldon Johnson, Mt. SAC Relays

MEN’S 110-METERS HURDLES
13.48 Aubrey Herring (Indiana State), Terre Haute, Indiana

MEN’S 400-METERS HURDLES
49.14 James Carter, Mt. SAC Relays

MEN’S 4×100-METERS RELAY
38.73 H.S.I., Mt. SAC Relays

MEN’S 4×400-METERS RELAY
3:03.69 New York Elite TC, Mt. SAC Relays

MEN’S HIGH JUMP
7-6.5 (2.30m) Charles Clinger (Weber State), Logan, Utah

MEN’S POLE VAULT
19-0.75 (5.81m) Lawrence Johnson, Mt. SAC Relays
Tim Mack, Mt. SAC Relays
Russ Buller, Mt. SAC Relays

MEN’S LONG JUMP
26-7 (8.10m) Robert Howard, Kansas Relays

MEN’S TRIPLE JUMP
54-5.5 (16.60m) Robert Howard, Kansas Relays

MEN’S SHOT PUT
70-0.5 (21.35m) John Godina, Mt. SAC Relays (world leader)

MEN’S DISCUS THOW
207-3 (63.18m) Doug Reynolds, Kansas Relays

MEN’S HAMMER THROW
227-0 (69.19m) Jay Harvard, Mt. SAC Relays

MEN’S JAVELIN
276-3 (84.22m) Breaux Greer, Mt. SAC Relays

MEN’S DECATHLON
7960 Bryan Clay, Azusa, Calif.

WOMEN’S 200 METERS
22.63 Latasha Collander-Richardson, Kansas Relays

WOMEN’S 300 METERS
35.68 Marion Jones, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S 800 METERS
2:04.51 Nicole Teter, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S 1,500 METERS
4:16.25 Janet Trujillo, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S 3,000-METERS STEEPLECHASE
9:59.50 Elizabeth Jackson (Brigham Young), Claremont, Calif. (world leader)

WOMEN’S 5,000 METERS
15:48.08 Jenny Crain, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN”S 10,000 METERS
32:14.64 Kim Fitchen, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S 100-METERS HURDLES
12.82 (wind aided) Melissa Morrison. Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S 400-METERS HURDLES
56.63 Michelle Johnson, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S 4×100-METERS RELAY
43.68 adidas, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S 4×400-METERS RELAY
3:34.86 Southern California, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S HIGH JUMP
6-4 (1.93m) Amy Acuff, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S POLE VAULT
14-5.5 (4.41m) Alicia Warlick, Mt. SAC Relays
Mary Sauer, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S TRIPLE JUMP
44-2 (13.41m) Vanitta Kinard, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S SHOT PUT
61-10.25 (18.85m) Teri Tunks, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S DISCUS THROW
208-11 (63.68m) Suzy Powell, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S HAMMER THROW
217-6 (66.29m) Dawn Ellerbe, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S JAVELIN THROW
184-8 (56.28m) Kim Kreiner, Mt. SAC Relays

WOMEN’S HEPTATHLON
5690 Trayce Lawyer, Azusa, Calif.