LOGAN, Utah — In front of hundreds of home fans, Utah State track & field totaled 11 titles and 45 top-five finishes on the second and final day of the USU-hosted Aggie Invitational at Ralph Maughan Track Stadium on Saturday.
Artie Gulden, Utah State's director of track & field and cross country, was especially pleased with the performances of the Aggie women hurdlers.
Junior Maddie Edwards won the women's 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.73. Edwards improved her personal best by over a second in front of a crowd of family and friends.
"It's fun to have all my family and friends here. It's obviously nice to run at your home track and where you practice," Edwards said. "It's been fun to see everyone do so well."
With her performance, Edwards now ranks third all-time in the 400-meter hurdles in USU history.
"We've been training our first 200 meters a lot this year and working on especially hurdles one and two," Edwards said. "I've kind of struggled stuttering to the first one, so I tried some different stuff in setting up my blocks and coming out strong in the first 200 and it went well."
In the same event, senior Olivia Smith finished second with a time of 59.60, and junior Adi Nielson took third with a time of 59.62, which moves Nielson up to eighth all-time in school history.
"It's great. I think the goal for all three of them is to make it to the NCAA West Preliminaries in that event and I think they all certainly have a shot," Gulden said. "We still have great races to go through the season so I would expect them all to get faster."
In the women's 100-meter hurdles, three Aggies finished in the top five with senior Abbey Bryant leading the way with a time of 13.38 to win the title. Sophomore Krysthina Vlahovic came in fourth with a time of 13.86 and Edwards placed fifth with a time of 13.95.
"All of them are running well, to have all three under 14 seconds — that was great, " Gulden said. "It's not like it was super windy and they got a benefit from that, it wasn't. Those were just true times, not winded."
Senior Sidnee Naerebout came in first in the women's triple jump with a mark of 12.30 meters (40-4.25), which improves her mark of fourth-best all-time in school history.
In the men's shot put, senior Gavin Beierle won the title with a mark of 16.87 meters (55-4.25).
Senior Spencer Nelson was triumphant in the men's 1,500 meters with a time of 3:50.06, leading four Aggies to a top-five finish. Junior Wyatt Evans came in second at 3:50.43, sophomore Drew Hogan placed third with a time of 3:51.13 and freshman Bryce Hill finished fifth with a time of 3:55.94.
"1,500 was really good today," Gulden said. "Really encouraging, we'll see how things shake out the next few weeks for them.
In the 800 meters, Aggies won both the women's and men's events as freshman Marion Packer came in first with a time of 2:14.40 and freshman Carson Coleman took first with a time of 1:52.99, respectively.
Sophomore Megumi Ludlow won the women's 5,000 meters with a time of 17:36.02.
Utah State was victorious in the women's 4x100-meter relay as seniors Abbey Bryant, Autumn Kidd, Olivia Smith and sophomore Krysthina Vlahovic posted a time of 46.94.
The Aggie women also took first in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:46.08. The relay was ran by Kidd, Edwards, Nielson and Smith.
Additional top-five finishes for the Aggie women included freshman Elle Jacobson in the long jump (fourth, 5.36 meters (17-7)), sophomore Milly Garren in the shot put (third, 14.28 meters (46-10.25)) and discus (third, 44.05 meters (144-6)), senior Alyssa McNutt in the discus (fourth, 43.15 meters (141-7)), freshman Sara Abbott in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (second, 11:36.07), freshman Brooklyn Hill in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (fourth, 12:04.59), freshman Paige Hansen in the pole vault (fourth, 3.67 meters (12-0.5)), freshman Sabrina Fairbanks in the pole vault (fifth, 3.67 meters (12-0.5)), sophomore Hannah Lybbert in the high jump (third, 1.60 meters (5-3)), freshman Madeline Carmona in the high jump (fourth, 1.60 meters (5-3)), senior Inka Mehtola in the high jump (fifth, 1.55 meters (5-1)) and triple jump (fourth, 10.91 meters (35-9.50)), freshman Viann Robinson in the triple jump (second, 11.32 meters (37-1.75)), freshman Caroline Moon in the 1,500 meters (second, 4:37.48), senior Taylia Norris in the 1,500 meters (fourth, 4:48.54) and 800 meters (fourth, 2:21.36), Kidd in the 400 meters (third, 56.90), sophomore Morgan Nygren in the 800 meters (second, 2:16.58), freshman Julia Stuard in the 800 meters (third, 2:19.09), freshman Cameron Moore in the 5,000 meters (third, 18:18.97), sophomore Meredith Price in the 5,000 meters (fourth, 18:29.65), freshman KaryLee Taylor in the 5,000 meters (fifth, 18:36.35), and the team of Stuard, senior Mattie Geddes, Nygren and Packer in the 4x400-meter relay (fourth, 3:59.18).
Additional Aggie men finishing in the top five included senior Brandon Ovington in the shot put (third, 16.49 meters (54-1.25)), freshman Joseph Turner in the discus (third, 52.40 meters (171-11)), junior Nate Franz in the discus (fifth, 49.98 meters (163-11)), junior Joshua Hartvigsen in the long jump (third, 7.03 meters (23-0.75)), freshman Samuel Beckwith in the long jump (fourth, 7.00 meters (22-11.75)) and high jump (tied for fifth, 1.81 meters (5-11.25)), senior Caden Dupee in the long jump (fifth, 6.33 meters (20-9.25)), sophomore Javin Richards in the 110-meter hurdles (third, 15.46) and 400-meter hurdles (fourth, 57.44), freshman Joseph Douglas in the 100 meters (fourth, 10.99), sophomore Rylan Anderson in the 400 meters (third, 48.03), freshman Landon Bott in the 400 meters (fourth, 48.20), senior Christopher Kauffman in the 800 meters (third, 1:53.80), junior Eric Nelson in the 5,000 meters (second, 14:55.78), sophomore Eli Gregory in the 5,000 meters (third, 15:05.16) and the team of Anderson, Bott, sophomore Carter Guiness and Kauffman in the 4x400-meter relay (second, 3:18.27).
Next week, the Aggies will compete at the BYU-hosted Robison Invitational in Provo, Utah, and the Stanford-hosted Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto, California.
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.
Aggie Invitational
Ralph Maughan Track Stadium | Logan, Utah | April 20, 2024
USU Women's Results:
Long Jump - 4. Elle Jacobson, 5.36 meters (17-7); Breanna Raven, DNS.
Discus - 3. Milly Garren, 44.05 meters (144-6); 4. Alyssa McNutt, 43.15 meters (141-7); 9. Ruby Jordan, 39.35 meters (129-1).
3,000-Meter Steeplechase - 2. Sara Abbott, 11:36.07; 4. Brooklyn Hill, 12:04.59.
4x100-Meter Relay - 1. Utah State (Abbey Bryant, Autumn Kidd, Olivia Smith, Krysthina Vlahovic), 46.94.
Shot Put - 3. Milly Garren, 14.28 meters (46-10.25); 7. Ruby Jordan, 12.69 meters (41-7.75).
Pole Vault - 4. Paige Hansen, 3.67 meters (12-0.5); 5. Sabrina Fairbanks, 3.67 meters (12-0.5); 6. Mikayla Dalton, 3.52 meters (11-6.5); 8. Mariah Jenkins, 3.37 meters (11-0.75).
High Jump - 3. Hannah Lybbert, 1.60 meters (5-3); 4. Madeline Carmona, 1.60 meters (5-3); 5. Inka Mehtola, 1.55 meters (5-1); 6. Viann Robinson, 1.55 meters (5-1); 8. Sophie Chandler, 1.50 meters (4-11); 9. Annie Hill, 1.45 meters (4-9).
Triple Jump - 1. Sidnee Naerebout, 12.30 meters (40-4.25); 2. Viann Robinson, 11.32 meters (37-1.75); 4. Inka Mehtola, 10.91 meters (35-9.50).
1,500 Meters - 2. Caroline Moon, 4:37.48; 4. Taylia Norris, 4:48.54; 8. Courtney Madsen, 4:58.30; 9. Karlee Christensen, 5:04.98; Natalie Swain, DNF.
100-Meter Hurdles - 1. Abbey Bryant, 13.38; 4. Krysthina Vlahovic, 13.86; 5. Maddie Edwards, 13.95; 9. Alisabeth Apedaile, 14.53; 13. Claire Petersen, 15.21; 14. Annie Hill, 15.28; 15. Viann Robinson, 15.65; 16. Sophie Chandler, 16.14.
100 Meters - 9. Adi Nielson, 12.45; Breanna Raven, DNS; Annie Hill, DNS.
400 Meters - 3. Autumn Kidd, 56.90
800 Meters - 1. Marion Packer, 2:14.40; 2. Morgan Nygren, 2:16.58; 3. Julia Stuard, 2:19.09; 4. Taylia Norris, 2:21.36; 7. Sophie Chandler, 2:22.78; Caroline Moon, DNF.
400-Meter Hurdles - 1. Maddie Edwards, 58.73; 2. Olivia Smith, 59.60; 3. Adi Nielson, 59.62.
200 Meters - 9. Claire Petersen, 25.42; 10. Abbey Bryant, 25.45; 14. Krysthina Vlahovic, 25.76; 16. Autumn Kidd, 25.97.
5,000 Meters - 1. Megumi Ludlow, 17:36.02; 3. Cameron Moore, 18:18.97; 4. Meredith Price, 18:29.65; 5. KaryLee Taylor, 18:36.35; Mimi Miyazawa, DNF.
4x400-Meter Relay - 1. Utah State A (Autumn Kidd, Maddie Edwards, Adi Nielson, Olivia Smith), 3:46.08; 4. Utah State B (Julia Stuard, Matte Geddes, Morgan Nygren, Marion Packer), 3:59.18.
USU Men's Results:
Shot Put - 1. Gavin Beierle, 16.87 meters (55-4.25); 3. Brandon Ovington, 16.49 meters (54-1.25); 6. Nate Franz, 15.48 meters (50-9.50); 8. Calvin Knapp, 15.41 meters (50-6.75).
1,500 Meters - 1. Spencer Nelson, 3:50.06; 2. Wyatt Evans, 3:50.43; 3. Drew Hogan, 3:51.13; 5. Bryce Hill, 3:55.94; 7. Grady Mylander, 3:58.24; 9. Yonas Mogos, 3:58.57; Mark Crandall, DNF.
Discus - 3. Joseph Turner, 52.40 meters (171-11); 5. Nate Franz, 49.98 meters (163-11); 7. Gavin Beierle, 46.64 meters (153-0).
Long Jump - 3. Joshua Hartvigsen, 7.03 meters (23-0.75); 4. Samuel Beckwith, 7.00 meters (22-11.75); 5. Caden Dupee, 6.33 meters (20-9.25).
110-Meter Hurdles - 3. Javin Richards, 15.46.
100 Meters - 4. Joseph Douglas, 10.99; 7. Rylan Anderson, 11.12; 11. Kelton Chenworth, 11.35; 13. Joshua Hartvigsen, 11.55; 14. Samuel Beckwith, 11.57; 15. Caden Dupee, 11.70.
400 Meters - 3. Rylan Anderson, 48.03; 4. Landon Bott, 48.20; 7. Carter Guiness, 49.48; 14. Caden Dupee, 52.35.
800 Meters - 1. Carson Coleman, 1:52.99; 3. Christopher Kauffman, 1:53.80; Wyatt Evans, DNF.
400-Meter Hurdles - 4. Javin Richards, 57.44.
High Jump - T-5. Samuel Beckwith, 1.81 meters (5-11.25); 7. Javin Richards, 1.81 meters (5-11.25); Kelton Chenworth, NH.
Triple Jump - Godwin Charles, DNS.
200 Meters - 6. Joseph Douglas, 22.35; Carter Guiness, DNS.
5,000 Meters - 2. Eric Nelson, 14:55.78; 3. Eli Gregory, 15:05.16; Grady Mylander, DNF; Drew Hogan, DNF; Daniel Larsen, DNS; Yonas Mogos, DNS.
4x400-Meter Relay - 2. Utah State (Rylan Anderson, Landon Bott, Carter Guiness, Christopher Kauffman), 3:18.27.
-USU-
