BYU track and field: Men finish 13th, women 15th at track championships

With a total of 16 points, the BYU men's track and field team tied for 13th place at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships on Saturday at Fayetteville, Ark.

"I am thrilled with how we did this week," said BYU men's track and field head coach Mark Robison. "We had three All-Americans, a national champion and finished 13th in the nation. Everyone performed better than they were ranked, except (decathlete) Meelis (Kosk), and that was just because of injury. What a great way to finish the season."

The Cougars' ranking is a huge improvement from last season's 42nd placement with six points. Each athlete finished higher than they were ranked, minus Kosk who pulled out of the decathlon with 2,638 points due to injury.Finishing up day one of the competition, sophomore Blaine Baker ended 18th overall in the javelin throw with a final distance of 63.69meters (208 feet 11 inches).

Going into day two, despite not advancing to the final round of the4x400 meter relay, four Cougars earned their spot in the BYU record books, landing one of the fastest times in school history.

Juniors Kevin Ahlstrom, All-American Kevin Biesinger, Rob Skidmore and freshman Rhyan Atrice finished 14th overall with a time of 3:06.60.

Coming into the competition as No. 25, senior Stephan Shay stepped up his performance in the 10,000 meter run. Shay completed the run in 29:43.25, 17th overall.

Senior All-American Kyle Perry and junior regional champion and All-American Richard Nelson each won their individual heats in the preliminary round of the 3000-meter steeplechase, advancing to the finals.

It was the final round of the steeplechase that gave both Cougars their All-America honors, with Perry landing first place with a lifetime best, BYU record and Mountain West Conference all-time best time of 8:29.24. Nelson finished in the top-10 with a 10th-place time of 8:50.08.

Topping off the championships for the Cougars, senior All-American Bob Low tied for a career-high and lifetime best mark in the pole vault competition. Clearing a height of 17 feet, 10.5 inches, Low secured third place overall with an All-America title in his pocket to end his collegiate career.

The Cougars complete their 2009 track and field season with both indoor and outdoor MWC championship titles, four All-Americans at indoor nationals, a ninth-place finish at regionals and now tied for 13th with three All-Americans at outdoor nationals.

For the BYU women's team, Lacey Cramer earned All-America honors with a fourth-place finish in the 800-meter run (2:03.19) Saturday and helped BYU to a No. 15 national ranking in the final women's team standings with 15.5 points — their best mark since 2005.

"I'm very proud of our team and the way they represented BYU all season long," said BYU women's track and field coach Craig Poole. "I'm excited for Ada (Robinson), Cecily (Lemmon) and Lacey

(Cramer), who earned All-America honors this week."

Cramer also secured two All-America honors during the indoor track season.