ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – BYU men’s track and field wrapped up its weekend at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships with eight All-American honors, including seven First Team, after Casey Clinger took fourth in the 3,000-meters.
Clinger’s time of 7:49.37 earned his second First Team All-American honors this weekend, complementing Friday night’s national runner-up finish in the 5000m. The performance placed him over a second ahead of Oklahoma State’s Alex Maier in a field that also included NCAA record-holder Drew Bosley of Northern Arizona, who finished second.
“I thought Casey ran really well tonight,” BYU Director of Track & Field Ed Eyestone said. “It’s difficult to double with the 5,000m and then the 3,000m in the same weekend, but he put himself in a good position. When Montana State’s Duncan Hamilton got out early, he knew that was the pack he needed to run with. He battled, making some critical decisions with the right moves.”
The senior is again in rarified air as the fourth-place finish was the program’s highest since Jared Ward also finished fourth in 2014. He is now the sixth-ever BYU distance athlete to finish in the top five at the NCAA Indoor Nationals 3,000m.
Clinger remained near the top for the duration of the race, fending off challengers as the final three laps saw jostling for position.
“There were a couple of times when athletes tried to come in and take his spot, but he had established position,” Eyestone said. “He was not passive, but assertive in protecting his position when others tried to catch him.”
The Cougars finished 12th with 17 points, 13 of those coming from Clinger.
“It was a really solid meet,” Eyestone said. “I’m super pleased with the efforts by everybody – the staff, trainers and obviously our student-athletes who came prepared.”
The team now turns its attention to the outdoor season with its first meet at Stanford’s Cardinal Classic on Saturday, March 18.