BYU men's track coach Willard Hirschi has a dilemma.
His star sprinter, Leonard Myles-Mills, has been sidelined throughout the outdoor track season with knee injuries. He had surgery just three weeks ago. So, Hirschi had figured that he would redshirt Myles-Mills and let him get healthy for next year.Then on Tuesday, at the Cougar Quick Step, a meet designed to prepare both the men's and women's teams for next week's WAC outdoor track championships in San Diego, Myles-Mills went out and ran his best 100-meter time ever: 10.16.
It was his first outdoor competition of the season. Imagine what he might do when he's completely healthy.
Now Hirschi must decide whether to waste a year of eligibility on Myles-Mills and allow him to compete in the WAC championships. Because of the team's lack of depth and surplus of injuries, the Cougars could use him.
"I don't think it would be worth it," said Hirschi. "But I haven't made up my mind yet." He has until Friday to decide.
Tuesday's meet served as a tune-up for both teams and both Hirschi and women's coach Craig Poole were satisfied with the results. "It was designed to get us ready for the WAC," said Poole. "And we plan to come out on top."
There is a reason why Poole is brimming with confidence: his teams have won 17 outdoor titles at BYU. Aside from that, he has a stable of talented athletes like Tiffany Lott and Windy Jorgensen.
The men, on the other hand, will need to pull a minor miracle to knock off favored UTEP. "We have too many people out to contend," said Hirschi, "unless we have some incredible performances, which can happen."
Hirschi said the Cougar Quick Step, though informal in nature, determined who will represent BYU in San Diego. The meet's informal appearance belied what was at stake.
"Some (athletes) solidified their spots," he said. "Others frittered it away. There is no such thing as a meaningless performance. It's what you're doing now that counts, not what you did at the first of the season."
Athletes from Utah and Utah State also traveled to Provo for the meet.