The U track and field team is now hitting the stretch run in the outdoor season. The Mountain West Conference Championships are only a couple weeks away, as the Utes head into BYU’s Clearance Robison Invitational.
“We want to be good enough so by the time we hit the conference championships, we can hit our goal of fourth place,” said U track and field coach Lisa Collet.
The teams that the U will compete against include Idaho State, Nevada, Southern Utah, BYU, Utah, Utah State, Weber State, UVSC and BYU-Idaho.
This may be the toughest meet the Utes have competed in as a full team all year.
Many worldclass athletes will be at the meet, such as 2000 Olympic gold medalist and current world record holder in the pole vault, Stacey Dragila.
Three-time national champion Tiffany Lott-Hogan will also compete. Lott-Hogan holds the world record in the indoor 100-meter hurdles.
Jeff Hansen, who won the national championship this year in indoor pole vaulting and is also a four-time All-American, will be competing at the tournament.
The Utes will have their work cut out for them, but will not fold, as they have been successful in just about every meet they have competed in this season.
The women’s team is bound to have athletes place, such as Brook LoBue, provided she is healthy enough. Along with LoBue, Autumn Smith, April Jackson and Erianne Allen have been consistent this season.
Last weekend, the Utes received an excellent performance from Noelle Pikus and Zuzana Sarikova.
The men’s team will look to Nephi Tyler and Teren Jameson to place highly in the tournament.
Both runners have been the largest forces on the men’s team, as they usually place in the Top 10.
Lion Gallegos and B.J. Christensen will also supply some help in other running events.
“This is a very important tournament for us, because we are facing other athletes that will show us how far we have progressed,” Collett said.
The heptathlon began yesterday and will also be held today, while the rest of the events will take place over the weekend.