Utah Track and Field Finishes Seventh at MWC Championships

Saturday, May 14

Fort Collins, Colo.

TBA

University of Utah

MWC Outdoor Championships

Utah Track and Field Finishes Seventh at MWC Championships

5/14/2011 12:00 AM | Track & Field

May 14, 2011

Complete 2011 MWC Championships Results

Team Results

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The University of Utah track and field team finished seventh at the MWC championships Saturday in Fort Collins, Colo., with a final tally of 68 points. Utah's individual highlights included second-place finishes from senior Alyssa Abbott (1,500 meter) and sophomore Angela Kaplar (100-meter hurdles) along with a third-place effort by sophomore Amanda Mergaert (1,500 meter).

"We had some bright spots today but not enough avoid a disappointing team finish," said Utah head coach Kyle Kepler. "[Alyssa] Abbott and [Amanda] Mergaert ran terrific races to earn all-conference honors. [Angela] Kaplar was winning over the fifth hurdle but clipped the next three and couldn't quite recover to hold on. However, it's her first all-conference finish and there will be many more bright days for her ahead. Brianna LeRoy had the best meet of her career with points and a 10-foot personal record in the javelin, and she scored in the sprint hurdle final. She competed and scored in all five of her events [heptathlon, long jump, high jump, 100-meter hurdles and javelin] and was the only athlete at the meet to score in all five events she competed in."

Abbott and Mergaert took second and third place, respectively, in the 1,500-meter event. Abbott ran a 4:29.90, finishing one second faster than Mergaert at 4:30.90. The two combined to rack up 14 points for the Utes in the team standings. Abbott also ran in the 5,000-meters, finishing ninth with a time of 17:34.16.

Also reaching the podium Saturday was Angela Kaplar, who placed second in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.71, adding another eight points to the team total. Junior Brianna LeRoy finished eighth at 14.42, to pick up one point for the Utes.

Mergaert went on to place fifth in the 800-meter run, posting a 2:10.19, tallying four points toward the team standings. Junior Lucy Yates recorded a 2:11.98 in the event to finish eighth and add another point for the Utes.

In the 4x400 relay, sophomore Lauren McKay, Yates, Rosalie Griffin and Alyssa Johnson combined for a fifth-place finish with a time of 3:47.68, to add four points to the Utes' team total.

LeRoy and freshman Samantha Eddy each posted personal records in the javelin throw, finishing seventh and ninth, respectively. LeRoy's effort sailed 130-05 to earn two points for the Utes in the team standings, while Eddy logged a 121-04.

In the shot put, Nikkie Rudder was the Utes' top finisher, placing eighth overall with mark of 45-04.50, and earning one point in the team standings. Sophomore Candus Aiello finished 12th at 44-03.25 and freshman Destanae Howerton-Davis was 16th with a mark of 42-04.75.

Utah's 4x100 relay team, comprised of freshman Kayla McMurray, sophomore Klaudia Rokossa, junior Langley Iverson and sophomore Theresa Waybright, took seventh place with a time of 53.35, earning two points toward the team standings.

"We're very young right now," said Kepler. "Two-thirds of our entire team are freshmen and sophomores, and some handled the pressure well while others still need more time to understand how it all works. We will continue to work hard and develop our talent as we move forward. "