The women's track and field team will battle for its fourth-straight Mountain West Conference Indoor Championship title this week at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The women will not only be defending their indoor conference title, but also their first-place finishes in the conference every year since the 1994-95 season.

"We're positioned very good going into the conference meet," coach Craig Poole said. "We're healthy and looking good."

The Air Force Academy will continue to host the MWC indoor tournament meet, as they have done for 15 consecutive years.

"This is the strongest group of teams there has been since the Mountain West Conference was formed," Air Force Academy coach Ralph Lindeman said.

BYU's track tradition and membership in the conference brings a strong presence every year at the indoor MWC tournament.

"In the past, BYU has dominated the conference and I expect them to do it again," Lindeman said.

Several BYU athletes enter the conference championships with the top marks in the conference this season.

Freshman Aneta Lemiesz leads all times in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes 8.6 seconds.

Senior Jamie Cottle has the best time of 4:43.67 in the mile run.

BYU also dominates the 3,000-and 5,000-meter running events.

BYU enters the 3,000-meter with the top six conference times.

Junior Katie Martin has the best time in the 3,000-meter with a time of 9:32.01.

In the 5,000-meter, the Cougars hold the top five conference times.

Junior Lindsey Thomsen has the best time in the 5,000-meter with a time of 16:16.37.

In the jumping events, sophomore Candace Clifford from Glendale, Ariz., is seeded at the top of the conference in the high jump.

In practice Clifford has jumped national championship qualifying marks, but is yet to clear them in a competition setting.

"If I can visualize what I'm supposed to do and remember how the good jumps feel, I'll come out on top." Clifford said. "I want to jump well and think I'm ready."

Also seeded at the top of the conference is sophomore Lindsey Sommer who is competing in the triple jump and on the 4x400-meter relay team.

MWC competition will begin today starting with the pentathlon.

On Friday the events will continue with qualifying and some final rounds.

The finals will conclude Saturday around 4 p.m., with an awards ceremony following.

Results will be updated daily and can be found by going to the Mountain West Conference Web site (www.themwc.com) and the Air Force sports Web site found at (www.airforcesports.com).



Copyright Brigham Young University 26 Feb 2003