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Show Mil APR1 2000 Q Inconsistencies mi injuries T MICHAEL MltLER r i illard Hirschi has coached a LjLj lot of athletes during his 13 years as head coach of the BYU men's track team, but none quite as puzzling and inconsistent as this year's. "It's been an unusual season," Hirschi said. "The potential is certainly there, but we're just not putting together solid performances." "This has been one of the most frustrating seasons in a long time," he said. While coach Hirschi struggles to figure out the enigma of his outdoor team and why BYU has performed below par, he can offer one obvious explanation injuries. "I can't ever remember such a list of injuries before," Hirschi said. "We've really been slowed by injuries. We've had three broken legs and a broken arm, which is really uncommon." The team has been without as many as 15 of its athletes this season. Injuries to sprinter Kenneth Andam and pole vaulter Jeff Hansen have slowed the Cougars' progress considerably Hirschi said. "We've lost Jeff Hansen for the season and he's our best pole vaulter and fifth in the nation," Hirschi said. Andam has recently returned to the team after competing in the Texas Relays, but Hirschi said he's still trying to get back in shape. "Kenneth is starting to run good again, but we've certainly not performed to the level we are capable of performing." Andam has recently returned to the team after competing in the Texas Relays, but Hirschi said he's still trying to get back in shape. When asked which athletes have had the biggest success this season, Hirschi pointed out the efforts of John Hedengren and Trevor Pettingil! at the Stanford Invitational. Hedengren finished 28th in a deep 10,000 meter field with a time of 29:33.44, while Pettingil! placed seventh in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in a time of 8:55.80. "Those were some excellent performances," Hirschi said. BYU won the conference indoor meet in Colorado Springs, Colo, without much difficulty and the Cougars will host the conference outdoor meet in May. With that in mind, Hirschi said there is still plenty of time for BYU to get back on track. "I think we'll be fine in spite of what's happened in the first six weeks of the season," he said. "Once we get finals out of the way and get some rest, I think we'll see these performances improve." -1 pa; J1 f I" f i Photo by Mark PhilbrickBYU All-American sprinter Kenneth Andam, a junior from Ghana. f Photo by Mart PhilbrikBYU Trevor Pettingill runs both cross country and steeplechase event. Y0 f hst lh Annual loFSiic Robison fpcscli Field! DnviftartionaB T JASON POCOCK. BYU Athletic Media tthe Cougars will take on the best jtalent in the region this weekend, as they host the Robison Invitational, April 20-22 at the BYU Track complex. Admission is free of charge for all three days of competition. "We're looking for a good day," said men's head coach Willard Hirschi. "Final exams will be over, so we're looking for some mentally tough performances. If the weather is what it's supposed to be, we should set a number of seasonal bests. The meet will be a great opportunity to step on the track and improve on what has happened so far." Among those expected to compete are Utah, Utah State, Weber State, Southern Utah, Idaho State, Ricks and UVSC. A number of former collegians will also participate as "unattached" athletes, including two-time two-time NCAA 100-meter champion Leonard Myles-Mills and former world record-holder Tiffany Lott-Hogan. The meet began in 1989, following the retirement of former men's head coach Clarence Robison. The Cougars have won every men's and women's team title since the event's inception. The women's team, ranked No. 7 by Trackwire and No. 4 in the latest of seasonal bests' Willard Hirschi, Head Coach Power Rankings, will field athletes dotting the nation's leader board in a variety of events. Leading the way is German native Kirsten Bolm, who is the Cougars' lone competitor ranked No. 1 in the country, in the long jump. Bolm is also at No. 20 in the 100-meter 100-meter hurdles ranking. Also scheduled to compete this weekend are Jeana Bingham, ranked 10th in the high jump and Amy Curtis (16th, javelin). The meet's most well-rounded competitor may be "We should set a number Z7onaw ranked in three separate events. Hernandez is 4th in the 10,000 meters, 12th in the 5,000 meters and 22nd in the 3,000 meters. The men have their fair share of NCAA Championship hopefuls on hand for the invitational. The highest ranking of the group belongs to senior Kyle Crossarth, who is sitting at No. 4 in the 400-meter hurdles. Kenneth Andam is the nation's 16th-ranked 100-meter runner, John Hedengren is No. 21 in the 10,000 meters. High jumper Marc Chenn is at No. 13 nationally, and indoor All-American Jim Roberts has the ninth-best performance of the season in the shot put. The meet will begin Thursday with the first half of the heptathlon and decathlon competition, and will conclude Saturday afternoon with the 4x400 relays at 2:20 p.m. 13 |