CLOVIS, California — Mattie Geddes broke the school record in the women's 800 meters for the second time this season, Brennan Benson advanced to the finals with a first-place finish in the preliminary round of the men's 800 meters, and Valerie Clark and Djamilliah Paepke-Chile each claimed a spot on the podium in the javelin.
 
All in a day's work for Utah State track & field on the opening day of the 2023 Mountain West Outdoor Championships.
 
Geddes, who set the school record in the 800 meters earlier this season at the Bryan Clay Invitational, repeated the feat in the preliminary round of the 800 meters on Thursday with a time of 2:08.46. The junior placed seventh overall to advance to the final on Sunday at 8:15 p.m. (MT). Senior Hannah Davidson finished 11th in the prelims with a personal-best time of 2:10.72
 
In the women's javelin, sophomore Valerie Clark and junior Djamilliah Paepke-Chile claimed USU's first podium finishes of the weekend with a pair of personal-best throws. Clark recorded a mark of 49.07 meters (161-0), becoming only the second Aggie woman to clear the 49-meter mark. Paepke-Chile recorded her best mark of the competition and her career on her final throw with a mark of 48.94 meters (160-6). The duo rank second and third, respectively, all-time in the javelin at Utah State.
 
In the men's 800 meters, both junior Brennan Benson and senior Christopher Kauffman advanced out of the preliminary round. Benson placed first overall between the two heats with a time of 1:53.26. Kauffman finished seventh with a time of 1:53.89. The pair will race in the final on Sunday at 8:25 p.m. (MT).
 
Graduate senior Caleb Garnica scored the first points of the weekend for the Aggie men in the 10,000 meters. Garnica finished fourth with a time of 30:19.85. Graduate senior Darren Harman also finished 10th with a time of 31:08.14, while freshman LJ Floyd finished 13th with a time of 31:52.44.
 
In the women's 400-meter hurdles, junior Maddie Edwards qualified for the final round with a time of 1:01.04, finishing seventh in the preliminary round. Junior Olivia Smith narrowly missed the last spot in the finals by a mere two-thousandths of a second, finishing 10th with a time of 1:01.21 (1:01.205). Sophomore Adi Nielson also finished 18th with a time of 1:04.59.

The Aggies started their weekend with a trio of top-10 finishes in the men's and women's hammer. Senior Tori Bailey led the Way on the women's side, placing ninth with a throw of 55.47 meters (182-0). Sophomore Alyssa McNutt set a new personal-best mark of 50.71 meters (166-4) to finish 10th. Freshman Milly Garren also finished 15th with a mark of 43.82 meters (143-9), also a personal-best. On the men's side, sophomore Nate Franz placed ninth with a mark of 50.89 meters (166-11).
 
Elsewhere on the day, graduate senior Skyler Andam placed 17th in the men's 200 meters with a time of 22.00. Sophomore Emma Thornley finished ninth in the women's 10,000 meters with a time of 35:18.33.
 
Competition at the MW Outdoor Championships is set to continue on Friday. A full schedule of events is available through UtahStateAggies.com.
 
Fans can follow the Utah State track & field programs at twitter.com/USUTF_XC, on Facebook at USUTrack and on Instagram at instagram.com/USUTF_XC. Aggies fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.
 
MOUNTAIN WEST OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
VETERANS MEMORIAL STADIUM
CLOVIS, CALIFORNIA
MAY 11-13, 2023
DAY ONE RESULTS
 
USU WOMEN RESULTS:
400-Meter Hurdles (prelims) - 7. Maddie Edwards, 1:01.04q; 10. Olivia Smith, 1:01.21; 18. Adi Nielson, 1:04.59.
800 Meters (prelims) - 7. Mattie Geddes, 2:08.46q; 11. Hannah Davidson, 2:10.72.
10,000 Meters (finals) - 9. Emma Thornley, 35:18.33.
Javelin (finals) - 2. Valerie Clark, 49.07 meters (161-0); 3. Djamilliah Paepke-Chile, 48.94 meters (160-6).
Hammer (finals) - 9. Tori Bailey, 55.47 meters (182-0); 10. Alyssa McNutt, 50.71 meters (166-4); 15. Milly Garren, 43.82 meters (143-9).
 
USU MEN RESULTS:
200 Meters (prelims) - 17. Skyler Andam, 22.00.
800 Meters (prelims) - 1. Brennan Benson, 1:53.26q; 7. Christopher Kauffman, 1:53.89q.
10,000 Meters (finals) - 4. Caleb Garnica, 30:19.85; 10. Darren Harman, 31:08.14; 13. LJ Floyd, 31:52.44.
Hammer (finals) - 9. Nate Franz, 50.89 meters (166-11).
 
 - USU -