PROVO, Utah — Utah State track & field won eight titles, earned 31 podium finishes and posted six performances that rank in the top 10 all-time in school history at the season-opening BYU December Invitational, which was held December 10-12, in Provo, Utah.
"We had a fantastic meet across the board," said
Artie Gulden, USU's director of track & field and cross country. "It was very exciting to see our balance. We had some good performances from the newcomers. It's great to start out with a number of USU top-10 marks, and we will look to build off of this as we look forward to meets in January after the break."
In his first competition as an Aggie, freshman
Daniel Chase won the men's 60 meters, posting a time of 6.70 which ranks third in school history. Fellow freshman
Ayodele Ojo, took second place with a time of 6.75, the 10th best in USU history. Freshman
Diego Aguirre-Stewart completed the Aggie sweep of the podium in the event with a third-place time of 6.77.
Freshman
Presley Gray also won her Utah State debut in the women's high jump, clearing 1.74 meters (5-8.5). Sophomore
Madeline Carmona finished just behind her in second place with a personal-best jump of 1.69 meters (5-6.5).
In the women's pole vault, freshman
Lucy Jeppson finished third with her clearance of 3.88 meters (12-8.75), ranking third all-time in Utah State history.
In the men's heptathlon, junior
Javin Richards finished in second place with 5,206 points, moving from eighth place to third in the Utah State record book in the event. Richards topped the field in the pole vault, clearing 4.90 meters (16-1). He also finished second in the long jump with a mark of 6.47 meters (21-2.75) and in the 60 meters, clocking in at 7.04, while adding a third-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.66.
Senior
Nate Franz also put his name in the record book in the men's shot put, posting a mark of 18.01 meters (59-1) to place second in the event and 10th all-time at USU. Graduate
Gavin Beierle finished third in the event with a career-best toss of 17.95 meters (58-10.75).
Aggie men claimed the top-two marks in the long jump, with senior
Joshua Hartvigsen and sophomore
Samuel Beckwith jumping 7.02 meters (23-0.5) and 6.95 meters (22-9.5), respectively.
Junior
Krysthina Vlahovic won the women's 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.51, just shy of her personal best. Sophomore
Claire Petersen joined her on the podium, taking third place with a time of 8.75.
Junior
Logan Hammer continued his run of success in the men's pole vault, clearing 5.37 meters (17-7.5) and nearly matching his personal best of 5.42 meters (17-9.25) that ranks third in school history. Hammer, who holds the Utah State outdoor pole vault record, would need to clear 5.45 meters (17-10.5) to claim the indoor school record. Junior
Marshall Rasmussen took fifth place in the event with a clearance of 5.07 meters (16-7.5), which places him 10th in school history.
In the women's pentathlon, junior
Sophie Chandler claimed the title with 2,749 points. She finished first in the long jump with a mark of 5.45 meters (17-10.5) and in the 800 meters with a time of 2:29.16. Chandler also added second-place finishes in the high jump with a jump of 1.59 meters (5-2.5) and in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.34.
In the men's 1,000 meters, sophomore
Landon Bott finished first with a time of 2:24.82, while junior transfer
Ernest Green clocked in at 2:26.41 to claim third place.
Junior
Megumi Ludlow claimed the title in the women's 3,000 meters with a finishing time of 10:23.19.
After the New Year, Utah State will travel south to Ogden, Utah, on Friday and Saturday, January 10-11, for the Weber State Invitational.
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.
BYU December Invitational
George Albert Smith Fieldhouse | Provo, Utah | December 10-12, 2024
USU Men's Results:
| Event (Heat) |
USU Finishers |
| Discus |
4. Joseph Turner, 47.76 meters (156-8.25); 9. Caden Reagan, 42.70 meters (140-1). |
| High Jump |
2. Taite Priestley, 2.04 meters (6-8.25). |
| Long Jump |
1. Joshua Hartvigsen, 7.02 meters (23-0.5); 2. Samuel Beckwith, 6.95 meters (22-9.5). |
| Pole Vault |
1. Logan Hammer, 5.37 meters (17-7.5); 5. Marshall Rasmussen, 5.07 meters (16-7.5); 6. Robbie Walker, 4.92 meters (16-1.75). |
| Shot Put |
2. Nate Franz, 18.01 meters (59-1); 3. Gavin Beierle, 17.95 meters (58-10.75); 9. Brock Bissegger, 14.09 meters (46-2.75). |
| Weight Throw |
3. Joseph Turner, 15.95 meters (52-4); 7. Caden Reagan, 13.13 meters (43-1). |
| 1,000 Meters |
1. Landon Bott, 2:24.82; 3. Ernest Green, 2:26.41; 6. Samuel Green, 2:27.80. |
| 3,000 Meters |
2. Max Wehrli, 8:18.12. |
| 300 Meters |
4. Diego Aguirre, 33.78; 16. Ayodele Ojo, 36.48; 21. Daniel Chase, 37.18; Matt Hall, DQ. |
| 4 x 400-Meter Relay |
5. Utah State (Josiah Gonzalez, Landon Bott, Samuel Green, Ernest Green), 3:21.20. |
| 500 Meters |
5. Josiah Gonzalez, 1:06.34. |
| 60 Meters (1) |
8. Matt Hall, 6.93. |
| 60 Meters (2) |
3. Ayodele Ojo, 6.81. |
| 60 Meters (6) |
4. Diego Aguirre, 6.82. |
| 60 Meters (7) |
1. Daniel Chase, 6.74. |
| 60 Meters |
1. Daniel Chase, 6.70; 2. Ayodele Ojo, 6.75; 3. Diego Aguirre, 6.77; 7. Matt Hall, 6.95. |
| Mile |
4. Wyatt Evans, 4:14.73; 6. Garrett Woodhouse, 4:17.06; 9. Mitch Athay, 4:25.55; 11. Britton Austin, 4:27.13; 19. Will Dixon, 4:33.24. |
| Multi-Event |
USU Finishers |
| High Jump |
4. Javin Richards, 1.86 meters (6-1.25); 5. Caden Dupee, 1.80 meters (5-10.75). |
| Long Jump |
2. Javin Richards, 6.47 meters (21-2.75); 3. Caden Dupee, 6.46 meters (21-2.25). |
| Pole Vault |
1. Javin Richards, 4.90 meters (16-1); Caden Dupee, NM. |
| Shot Put |
4. Caden Dupee, 13.03 meters (42-9); 6. Javin Richards, 11.83 meters (38-9.75). |
| 1,000 Meters |
5. Caden Dupee, 2:52.96; 6. Javin Richards, 2:59.52. |
| 60 Meters |
2. Javin Richards, 7.04; 5. Caden Dupee, 7.40. |
| 60-Meter Hurdles |
3. Javin Richards, 8.66; 4. Caden Dupee, 8.69. |
| Heptathlon |
2. Javin Richards, 5206 points; 4. Caden Dupee, 4280 points. |
USU Women's Results:
| Event (Heat) |
USU Finishers |
| High Jump |
1. Presley Gray, 1.74 meters (5-8.5); 2. Madeline Carmona, 1.69 meters (5-6.5). |
| Long Jump |
3. Breanna Raven, 5.65 meters (18-6.5); 5. Elle Jacobson, 5.45 meters (17-10.5). |
| Pole Vault |
3. Lucy Jeppson, 3.88 meters (12-8.75); 5. Abbie Scott, 3.73 meters (12-2.75); 6. Gabriella Fenn, 3.73 meters (12-2.75); 8. Mikayla Dalton, 3.58 meters (11-9); 9. Katerina Agüero, 3.18 meters (10-5.25). |
| Shot Put |
2. Milly Garren, 13.94 meters (45-8.75); 8. Ruby Jordan, 12.67 meters (41-6.75); 10. Reagan Trulsen, 10.79 meters (35-4.75). |
| Triple Jump |
Breanna Raven, NM. |
| Weight Throw |
3. Milly Garren, 16.54 meters (54-3.25); 5. Mackenzie Patten, 15.39 meters (50-6); 6. Ruby Jordan, 14.78 meters (48-6); 12. Reagan Trulsen, 12.28 meters (40-3.5). |
| 1,000 Meters |
2. Jocelyn Capener, 3:04.27; 3. Julia Stuard, 3:04.45; 5. Erin Higgs, 3:05.91. |
| 3,000 Meters |
1. Megumi Ludlow, 10:23.19. |
| 300 Meters |
2. Mashaylee Jones, 38.99; 3. Emma Reeves, 40.01; 8. Elly Jeppsen, 41.50; Brenly Douglas, DNS. |
| 4 x 400-Meter Relay |
2. Utah State (Adi Nielson, Emma Reeves, Heidi Harper, Elly Jeppsen), 3:50.76. |
| 500 Meters |
2. Alison Richter, 1:14.77; 3. Adi Nielson, 1:14.96; 4. Heidi Harper, 1:18.36; 5. Ava Smith, 1:21.35. |
| 60 Meters (2) |
8. Claire Peterson, 7.78. |
| 60 Meters (3) |
13. Krysthina Vlahovic, 7.88. |
| 60 Meters (5) |
9. Emma Reeves, 7.80. |
| 60 Meters (7) |
Brenly Douglas, DNS. |
| 60 Meters |
8. Claire Peterson, 7.81. |
| 60-Meter Hurdles (2) |
1. Krysthina Vlahovic, 8.60. |
| 60-Meter Hurdles (4) |
7. Claire Peterson, 9.10. |
| 60-Meter Hurdles |
1. Krysthina Vlahovic, 8.51; 3. Claire Peterson, 8.75. |
| Mile |
Megumi Ludlow, DNS. |
-USU-
