Utes Find Success at Husky Invitational

Feb. 14, 2010

SEATTLE, Wash. - The majority of the University of Utah track and field team competed at the Husky Invitational on Saturday with five top-ten finishes. Sophomore Lucy Yates had an NCAA provisional qualifying time in the invitational 800m run and Volunteer Assistant Coach Shayla Houlihan qualified for the USA Indoor National Meet.

"It was a great weekend, maybe one of the best in Utah school history in terms of top level performances," said Head Coach Kyle Kepler. "I thought all of the athletes responded well to national level competition at both venues. We had a bunch of personal bests and all-time school best performances. Even those who didn't have their best day still performed at a high level and that will help them continue to improve."

Yates had a successful meet at the Husky Invitational, competing in both the invitational 800m run and the 4x400m relay. In the 800m run, she set a new personal record of 2:07.60, an NCAA provisional qualifying time, which placed her 11th place overall in the race. Her time ranks second on Utah's all-time performance list.

In the 4x400m relay, Yates teamed up with Alyssa Johnson, Ashley Mosley and Chelsey Kaplar. The Ute quartet had a combined time of 3:47.79 in the event, which placed them third overall.

Houlihan and junior Alyssa Abbott competed in the invitational 3000m run. Houlihan finished the race in 9:23.82 for sixth place overall. Her time was a new lifetime best and also qualifies her for the USA Indoor National Meet on Feb. 27-28. Abbott also set a lifetime personal best in the event with a time of 9:34.17 to earn 18th overall.

The Utes had four runners competing in the 400m dash, two of which finished in the top ten. Mosley finished in ninth place overall with a time of 56.99 and Johnson tied for tenth place with a time of 57.13. Chelsey Kaplar finished the race in 57.93 (23rd) and Natalie Young came in 26th overall with a time of 58.57.

Sophomore Langley Iverson set another personal best in the high jump on Saturday with a clearance of 5-9.75 (1.77m), which ranks fourth on Utah's all-time performance list. Her height was just one centimeter from setting an NCAA provisional qualifying mark.

Freshman Theresa Waybright set a new personal best in the pole vault after clearing a height of 12-4.0, which earned 14th place overall. Her mark ranks sixth on Utah's all-time performance list.

In the weight throw, senior Sarah Grimm finished fourth overall with a toss of 57-2.0. Freshman Anneli Stahl also competed in the event, finishing 15th overall with a mark of 51-10.5.

"Lucy got caught up in traffic in the final straightaway so we know she can go faster. Langley competes at a high level every week. Having Alyssa return to national level form is a credit to her perseverance after dealing with multiple injuries. Grimm regained some confidence after a couple of sub par performances by her standards. The freshmen are learning and growing quickly which is really exciting when you think about the future of the program. We still have a few things to clean up and some sharpening that needs to take place before the conference championships in two weeks."

NEXT UP
The University of Utah track and field team will compete at the Wildcat Tune-Up on Feb. 18-20 in preparation for the Indoor Mountain West Conference Championships.

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Alyssa Abbott

Sarah Grimm

Langley Iverson

Alyssa Johnson

Chelsey Kaplar

Ashley Mosley

Anneli Stahl

Theresa Waybright

Lucy Yates

Natalie Young

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