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SALT LAKE CITY â Brigham Young University's strong showing at the 2019 NCAA outdoor track and field championship continued on Thursday.
Four members of BYUâs women teams qualified for finals on Thursday in Austin, Texas.
Whittni Orton, Erica Birk-Jarvis, Anna Camp, and Brenna Porter all made it through the prelims in their respective events. On the menâs side, Brian Matthews finished 11th in the decathlon.
"It was a great continuation from what we saw during the first day of competition," BYU head coach Ed Eyestone said. "I loved the way our women rose to the occasion and fought to secure spots in their finals. Then for Brian to finish 11th and PR after being the last decathlete to qualify was a great way to end the day."
Orton qualified for the final in the 1,500 meters by finishing in fifth in the second heat with a time of 4:14.37.
Birk-Jarvis placed third in her heat of the 3,000-meter steeplechase finishing in 9:52.43 to qualify for the event finals on Saturday. The junior finished in seventh overall in the prelims.
In the 800 meters, Camp posted a career-best time of two minutes, 3.65 seconds to qualify for the final. She had the seventh fastest time of the prelims.
Porter finished fifth in the 400-meter hurdles to qualify for the final. She finished with a time of 57.03.
Matthews set personal bests in the 110m hurdles (15.00), the discus (39.88m/130-10) and javelin (58.00m/190-3) on his way to the 11th place finish in the decathlon.
"He stayed within himself and did what knows he can do," BYU associate head coach Mark Robison said.
The BYU men's team will complete competition on Friday. The Cougar men are currently in second place with 21 points, three points behind the leader, Mississippi State.
