Cougar runner breaks 4-minute-mile barrier

PROVO — For Kyle Perry, last Saturday's race at the University of Washington Invitational was not just another competition. It was record-setting.

The Brigham Young junior runner from Sandy broke the 4-minute-mile barrier at the Dempsey Indoor Facility in Seattle. His time of 3 minutes, 59.16 seconds is the second-fastest by any collegiate runner this season and automatically qualifies Perry for nationals.

The performance also ranks as the second-best indoor mile in Mountain West Conference history, behind only 2001 national champion Bryan Berryhill.

Perry's teammate, senior Dustin Bybee, was not far behind Saturday. He finished in 4:01.22, good enough for a provisional mark and also the fifth-best mile time in the history of the MWC.

Perry is just the second Cougar to ever break the 4-minute barrier indoors. Doug Padilla, who was an eight-time All-American ran a 3:56.6 in 1981, when he was also the two-mile national champion.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: A close win over Air Force last Wednesday got the Cougars ready for probably their biggest victory of the season to date.

Three nights after getting past the Falcons at home, 52-47, Brigham Young played host to No. 15 Wyoming. The final result was quite unexpected, as the Cougars blew out the Cowgirls, 56-42 to improve to 11-8 overall, 5-2 in conference play. BYU was led by Mallary Gillespie-Carling's 20 points. Gillespie-Carling also led the way in the win against Air Force with 24 points.

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL: The No. 1 Cougars kept their record unblemished at 9-0 with a pair of home victories over No. 6 Cal State Northridge last weekend.

On Friday, the Cougars came out on top, 30-28, 19-30, 30-19, 30-26. Senior outside hitter Ivan Perez led BYU with 20 kills, 10 digs and a .351 hitting percentage.

Then on Saturday, BYU won, 30-20, 30-24, 25-30, 34-36, 15-8. Senior opposite Jonathan Charette had 23 kills and tallied a .400 hitting percentage.

WOMEN'S SOCCER: BYU's record-setting goalkeeper Erika Woodbury keeps having the honors piled on her.

The Cougars' all-time leader in saves and shutouts, recently played two games with the National B Team against the Mexican Olympic Team in Mexico. The USA team lost both, 1-0 and 3-2. Woodbury was in goal for a half of each game.