LOGAN, Utah — Utah State track & field achieved 19 titles and 43 top-five finishes at the USU-hosted Roman Ruiz Speed and Power Meet on Saturday, Feb. 3, inside the George Nelson Fieldhouse.  

"We've had a really good day," said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Artie Gulden. "Our performances across the board have really been good." 

Senior Abbey Bryant won the women's 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.39. The performance ranks second all-time in USU history. 

"To be able to run that at home and get so close to the school record at home is amazing," Bryant said. "I was a little bit nervous coming into it, but the result was something I've been working really hard for, for a really long time so I'm pretty happy with it." 

Two other Aggies also entered the USU record book as sophomore Krysthina Vlahovic took second in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.48 and now ranks third all-time. Junior Maddie Edwards finished third with a time of 8.77 and now holds the 10th-best time in school history. 

"I'm so proud of my teammates," Bryant said. "We work really hard every day together and so to be able to have that heat with all three of us together it's amazing to see everyone progress together. It was just a very special moment for all of us." 

Sophomore Logan Hammer claimed the title in the men's pole vault, clearing 5.37 meters (17-7.25). The mark ranks third all-time in USU history. 

"I'm just grateful that I had this chance," Hammer said. "We've just been trying to get back and try to stay with the pole a little bit more and I was just able to finally feel that and ride the pole up and over to get my height." 

In the men's invitational mile, junior Brennan Benson shattered the Nelson Fieldhouse record of 4:12.80 with a 4:04.56 performance, winning the event. 

Sophomore Logan Garnica set a Nelson Fieldhouse Record in the men's 3,000, winning the event with a time of 8:23.27. The previous record-holder was former Olympian Henry Marsh with a time of 8:25.70. Sophomore Eli Gregory took third in the event with a time of 8:37.52.  

In the women's 60 meters, junior Emma Reeves took the title with a time of 7.72. The performance is the eighth-best in USU history. 

Senior Mattie Geddes took first in the women's 800 meters with a time 2:10.95. Geddes moved up to fifth in the USU top-10 record book. 

Senior Sidnee Naerebout won the women's triple jump with a mark of 12.13 meters (39-9.75). Naerebout improved her mark to the No. 6 spot on the USU top-10 record book. 

In the women's pole vault, freshman Paige Hansen won the event clearing a mark of 3.77 meters (12-4.50). Hansen now ranks eighth all-time in school history. 

The Aggies claimed both the men's and women's titles in the 4x400-meter relay. The Aggie women's team, consisting of Edwards, senior Autumn Kidd, senior Olivia Smith and Reeves, ran a 3:53.00 relay. The Aggie men's team, made up of sophomore Rylan Anderson, sophomore Carter Guiness, senior Christopher Kauffman and freshman Cooper Jones, finished with a time of 3:35.14. 

Other titles included freshman Claire Petersen in the women's 200 meters (26.14), sophomore Alison Richter in the women's 600 meters (1:34.62), freshman Breanna Raven in the women's long jump (5.70 meters (18-8.50)), junior Inka Mehtola in the women's high jump (1.61 meters (5-3.25)), freshman Joseph Douglas in the men's 60 meters (7.01), Anderson in the men's 600 meters (1:24.56), junior Wyatt Evans in the men's 800 meters (1:53.98), junior Joshua Hartvigsen in the men's long jump (6.80 meters (22-3.75)), and junior Kelton Chenworth in the men's high jump (2.11 meters (6-11.0)). 

Midway through the competition, Utah State announced that the Aggie Speed and Power Meet would now be called the Roman Ruiz Speed and Power Meet in honor of former USU track & field athlete Roman Ruiz. 

"The highlight of the day was naming the meet after Roman Ruiz," Gulden said. "We love Roman and we always want him to be a part of our program." 

Roughly four years ago, Ruiz collapsed while working out over spring break. Fortunately, retired physician Dr. John Bailey, who was the only other individual using the track at the same time, saved Ruiz's life. USU decided to rename the meet to honor the former decathlon and heptathlon athlete who exhibited an incredible combination of speed and power. Ruiz still ranks sixth in the indoor heptathlon and eighth in the decathlon in school history. 

Utah State next visits Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the Don Kirby Invitational and Seattle, Washington, for the Husky Classic. Both meets will take place on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9-10. 

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.  

Roman Ruiz Speed and Power Meet 

George Nelson Fieldhouse | Logan, Utah | February 3, 2024 

USU Women's Results: 

60 Meters (prelims) - 1. Autumn Kidd, 7.76; 2. Emma Reeves, 7.79; 3. Claire Petersen, 7.82; 9. Elle Jacobson, 8.13.  

60 Meters (finals) - 1. Emma Reeves, 7.72; 2. Claire Petersen, 7.79; 4. Autumn Kidd, 7.83.  

60-Meter Hurdles (prelims) - 1. Abbey Bryant, 8.43; 2. Krysthina Vlahovic, 8.56; Maddie Edwards, 8.83; 4. Alisabeth Apedaile, 8.93; 7. Sophie Chandler, 9.39.  

60-Meter Hurdles (finals) - 1. Abbey Bryant, 8.39; 2. Krysthina Vlahovic, 8.48; 3. Maddie Edwards, 8.77; 4. Alisabeth Apedaile, 8.81. 

200 Meters - 1. Claire Petersen, 26:14; 4. Krysthina Vlahovic, 26.85.  

600 Meters - 1. Alison Richter, 1:34.62; 2. Olivia Smith, 1:34.64; 3. Adi Nielson, 1:35.12; 4. Marion Packer, 1:37.02.  

800 Meters - 1. Mattie Geddes, 2:10.95; 4. Julia Stuard, 2:21.30; 5. Taylia Norris, 2:23.22; 7. Breanna Raven, 2:26.18; 8. Sophie Chandler, 2:26.56.  

Mile - 2. Sammi Lee, 5:09.95; 5. Brie Smith, 5:12.42; 6. Caroline Moon, 5:15.86; 8. Taylia Norris, 5:16.49; 12. Courtney Madsen, 5:26.36; 14. KaryLee Taylor, 5:27.01; 18. Brooklyn Hill, 5:29.38; 19. Kaybree Christensen, 5:41.21; Hannah Davidson, DNF; Marion Packer, DNF.  

3,000 Meters - 2. Malia Lowe, 10:15.73; 3. Madison Strasner, 10:32.72; 4. Cameron Moore, 10:34.78; 6. Sara Abbott, 10:52.73; Sammi Lee, DNF.  

4x400-Meter Relay - 1. Utah State A (Maddie Edwards, Autumn Kidd, Olivia Smith, Emma Reeves), 3:53.00.  

Long Jump - 1. Breanna Raven, 5.70 meters (18-8.50); 2. Elle Jacobson, 5.37 meters (17-7.50). 

Triple Jump -  1. Sidnee Naerebout, 12.13 meters (39-9.75); 2. Viann Robinson, 11.02 meters (36-2.0); Breanna Raven, NM.  

High Jump - 1. Inka Mehtola, 1.61 meters (5-3.25); 2. Hannah Lybbert, 1.61 meters (5-3.25); 3. Viann Robinson, 1.56 meters (5-1.25); 4. Madeline Carmona, 1.56 meters (5-1.25); 9. Sophie Chandler, 1.51 meters (4-11.50); 10. Annie Hill, 1.46 meters (4-9.50).  

Pole Vault - 1. Paige Hansen, 3.77 meters (12-4.50); 3. Mikayla Dalton, 3.47 meters (11-4.50); 4. Sabrina Fairbanks, 3.47 meters (11-4.50); T-5th. Mariah Jenkins, 3.32 meters (10-10.75). 

Shot Put - 2. Milly Garren, 14.36 meters (47-1.50); 8. Ruby Jordan, 12.62 meters (41-5.0); Alyssa McNutt, NM.  

Weight Throw - 2. Milly Garren, 16.05 meters (52-8.0); 4. Alyssa McNutt, 15.70 meters (51-6.25); 6. Ruby Jordan, 15.40 meters (50-6.25).  

USU Men's Results: 

60 Meters (prelims) - 2. Joseph Douglas, 7.08; 5. Joshua Hartvigsen, 7.12; T-7. Benji Douglas, 7.17.  

60 Meters (finals) - 1. Joseph Douglas, 7.01; 6. Joshua Hartvigsen, 7.22.  

60-Meter Hurdles (prelims) - 4. Javin Richards, 8.83; 6. Caden Dupee, 8.92.  

60-Meter Hurdles (finals) - 3. Javin Richards, 8.49; 5. Caden Dupee, 8.56.  

200 Meters - 3. Joseph Douglas, 23:23; 7. Benji Douglas, 24:55. 

400 Meters - 4. Cooper Jones, 54.96.  

600 Meters - 1. Rylan Anderson, 1:24.56; 5. Bradford Woodhouse, 1:25.13; 8. Carter Guiness, 1:28.33; 10. Caden Dupee, 1:31.10; 12. Javin Richards, 1:35.08.  

800 Meters - 1. Wyatt Evans, 1:53.98; 2. Christopher Kauffman, 1:57.50; Landon Bott, DNF.  

4x400-Meter Relay - 1. Utah State (Rylan Anderson, Carter Guiness, Christopher Kauffman, Cooper Jones), 3:35.14. 

Invitational Mile - 1. Brennan Benson, 4:04.56; 2. Yonas Mogos, 4:24.81; 3. Drew Hogan, 4:45.16; Mark Crandall, DNF.  

Mile - 3. Carson Coleman, 4:21.01; 5. Daniel Larsen, 4:23.50.  

3,000 Meters - 1. Logan Garnica, 8:23.27; 3. Eli Gregory, 8:37.52; 6. Grady Mylander, 8:51.84; Daniel Larsen, DNF.  

Long Jump - 1. Joshua Hartvigsen, 6.80 meters (22-3.75).  

High Jump - 1. Kelton Chenworth, 2.11 meters (6-11.0); 6. Caden Dupee, 1.81 meters (5-11.25); Javin Richards, NH; Robbie Walker, NH.  

Pole Vault - 1. Logan Hammer, 5.37 meters (17-7.25); 3. Javin Richards, 4.62 meters (15-1.75); 4. Robbie Walker, 4.47 meters (14-8.0).  

Shot Put - 2. Nate Franz, 16.61 meters (54-6.0); 4. Calvin Knapp, 15.90 meters (52-2.0); 5. Brandon Ovington, 15.57 meters (51-1.0).  

Weight Throw - 4. Joseph Turner, 16.11 meters; (52-10.25); 8. Nate Franz, 15.24 meters (50-0).  

-USU-