National treasures? Cougars sending a strong contingent to NCAA national track championships

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A year ago, Brigham Young University's women's track-and-field team finished the season in uncharted territory.

As a team, the Cougars wrapped up the NCAA championship meet in a tie for 64th place, the team's lowest finish since 1993, with their only points coming courtesy of freshman Amy Fowler in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

At that time, BYU women's coach Craig Poole credited the low finish to a lack of experience, saying the future held bright things for the young squad.

Now, heading into the 2007 NCAA track and field championships this weekend in Sacramento, the Cougars are looking to back up their coach's optimistic prognostication.

With nine athletes qualified and entered in this year's championships, which began Wednesday at Sacramento State University, the Cougars are looking to make it back to their perennial spot in the top 15.

"They've been there, they should be able to handle the preparations and the pressures of a big meet," Poole said. "And it is a big meet; it's probably the meet next best to the Olympic trials in my opinion."

Sophomore distance star Whitney McDonald leads the charge, challenging for the individual title in the 10,000-meter run. Having already broken the school record in the 5,000-meter run this season, McDonald is aiming for a high finish and All-American status before departing on an LDS mission this summer.

Fowler is back in the steeplechase, holding the No. 8 seed in the event this year. Also competing in the steeple will be Provo native Kassi Andersen, who won the national championship in that event in 2003, setting an NCAA meet record in the process.

Orem native and former Timpanogos High star Michelle Turner also makes a return to Sacramento in the 800-meter run, where she finished 19th last year. Sophomore Heidi Magill, formerly of Mountain View High, will compete in the 1,500-meter run, with Kelly Furr and Ashley McCallister aiming high in the pole vault. Jennifer Grossarth (400-meter hurdles) and Mindy Neeley (long jump) round out a promising field for the Cougars.

"All of our kids we're taking in are ready to go," Poole said. "The goal we have is to go to that meet, do what we can, and have the chips fall as they may. It's up to us to lose whatever place we get."

For the Cougar men, a somewhat disappointing finish at the Western Regionals was relieved by indications that BYU could end up scoring as well, or better, at the national competition