2 WSU runners advance at U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials

EUGENE, Ore. — A pair of Weber State runners advanced to the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase with strong semifinal performances Monday night in the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials.

Lindsay Anderson, the former Wildcat All-American and current WSU assistant track coach, placed second in her heat and third overall with a time of 9 minutes, 49.71 seconds to advance to Thursday's finals.

"I wanted to go out quick so it wasn't a sitting race," said Anderson. "It was a good pace, so I feel good for (Thursday)."

She added: "I didn't care about winning this one. I wanted people to come out and stay with me. I wanted to make it an honest race."

Current Wildcat distance runner Sariah Long finished sixth in the same opening heat and 11th overall at 9:56.72 to be among the 14 steeplechase finalists for Thursday.

Former BYU star Kassi Andersen failed to qualify, finishing at 10:37.32.

Also advancing from qualifying competition Monday night was James Parker in the men's hammer throw.

Parker, of Layton High and Utah State, had enough on his first throw of 71.33 meters (234 feet, 0 inches) to finish fifth in the qualifying round, and then fouled on his two subsequent attempts. He advances to Friday's finals.

BYU's Mindy Neely finished 18th of the 27 participants in the women's long jump qualifying, with her third and final jump her best at 6.11 meters (20 feet, 0.5 inches).

Former BYU and Provo High standout Josh Rohatinsky, who ran well enough in last weekend's 5,000-meter semifinals to qualify for Monday night's 5K finals opted not to run, instead using the 5K semis as a warm-up for this weekend's 10,000-meter finals.

Trials participants will use Tuesday and Wednesday to rest before resuming the final four days of competition beginning Thursday.