BOSTON, Mass. – Utah State track & field had a trio of athletes compete at the Boston University-hosted David Hemery Valentine Invitational this weekend, each etching their names into the Utah State record books.
Senior Devin Pancake broke the school record in the men's mile as the native of Springville, Utah, placed 15th overall with a time of 4:00.36. The old mark of 4:02.66 was set by former Aggie All-American Dillon Maggard in 2017.
"It feels really good to break Dillon's record," Pancake said. "Dillon just ran a 13:13 5K, so to be able to break that record for somebody that is that good of an athlete, it really means a lot. To train with him personally and have him believe in me that I could do it.
"Obviously, I came up a little bit short of my goal of being the first Utah State athlete to run sub-four minutes for the mile in an open race, but it will come. Hopefully, I will get it soon. It was a great race overall and it feels really good to break the record."
Maggard, who is in his third season as a volunteer assistant coach with USU's track & field and cross country programs, placed 16th with a time of 13:13.62 in the men's 5K at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational.
Grad transfer Connor Weaver placed 46th with a time of 13:49.16 in the same event. His time ranks second all-time at Utah State, trailing only Maggard's time of 13:40.59 set in 2018.
Graduate senior Katie Haviland also put forth a tremendous effort in the 5,000 meters, placing 19th with a time of 16:23.77 in the women's race. The performance moved Haviland up from fourth to second all-time in Utah State history, behind only Alisa Nicodemus, who set the record of 16:00.81 in 1993.
Utah State track & field next returns to competition at the Mountain West Indoor Championships, on Feb. 24-26. in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
DAVID HEMERY VALENTINE INVITATIONAL
BOSTON UNIVERSITY TENNIS AND TRACK CENTER
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
FEBRUARY 11-12, 2022
WOMEN'S RESULTS
5,000 Meters (finals) - 19. Katie Haviland, 16:23.77.
MEN'S RESULTS
Mile (finals) - 15. Devin Pancake, 4:00.36.
5,000 Meters (finals) - 46. Connor Weaver, 13:49.16.
-USU-
