The BYU men’s track team saw a pair of All-American performances in the NCAA Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on Friday.

In the 3,000-meter steeplechase final, Kenneth Rooks ran a personal best 8:22.56 to finish sixth. The mark is also second-best in school history behind Henry Marsh, who ran 8:21.60 in 1977. Rooks ran in the middle of pack early on and was third with less than two laps to go, staying in contact with the leaders for most of the race.

Ahmed Jaziri of Eastern Kentucky closed strong and won the race in 8:18.70, leading a group of five runners who timed under the world championship standard (8:20.00).

Colten Yardley started in lane 9 in his 400-meter hurdles final and finished seventh in a time of 50.19. On Wednesday, Yardley was second in his semifinal with a time of 49.82.

LSU’s Sean Burrell won the event in a time of 48.70, with Malik Metivier of Texas Tech second at 49.13 and Isaiah Levingston of Oklahoma third at 49.20.

Competing in the 5,000 meters, BYU sophomore Casey Clinger went to the front early and was in the top six at the bell lap. Clinger finished in 10th place with a time of 13:33.20. Wisconsin’s Olin Hacker was the winner of the event in 13:27.73.

BYU’s Halley Foslom Walker, competing in the heptathlon, won her 200-meter heat in 24.99, a personal best, and finished 10th overall. She is 15th in the overall standings after the first day of events with 3,361 points. Folsom Walker was 13th in the shot put (38-8 3/4), 14th in the 100-meter hurdles (13.97) and 17th in the high jump (5-6 1/2).

The leader in the heptathlon is Florida’s Anna Hall with 3,922 points.

Saturday will bring a conclusion to the women’s portion of the meet. BYU’s Courtney Wayment is one of the favorites in the 3,000-meter steeplechase final while Cierra Tidwell-Allphine (high jump) and Sable Lohmeier El-Bakri (discus) compete in field event finals. Walker will also complete her participation in the heptathlon on Saturday.

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