CLOVIS, California — Utah State track & field earned two podium finishes on day one of the Mountain West Outdoor Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Thursday.

The Aggie men ended the first day of competition in third with 14 points, while the USU women sat in fourth place with 11 points.

"We had a really good day that we can hopefully build on for the next two days," said Artie Gulden, USU's director of track & field and cross country. "Some bright spots throughout. Big day hopefully for us tomorrow to set us up well for Saturday."

The first Utah State medal came in the men's javelin courtesy of freshman Walker Deede. He placed second with a throw of 66.36 meters (217-8) to earn silver. 

"Walker did fantastic in the javelin and punched his ticket to NCAA West Preliminaries," Gulden said. 

For Deede, that mark ranks eighth all-time in Utah State history.

"The throw felt really solid," Deede said. "I'm excited to go to first rounds and compete."

Freshman Kace Jones and senior Calvin Knapp both scored points for the Aggies by taking seventh and eighth with marks of 58.24 meters (191-1) and 52.08 meters (170-10), respectively.

Earlier in the day in the women's javelin, senior Djamilliah Paepke-Chile secured the first points for Utah State by placing fourth in the women's javelin with a mark of 47.05 meters (154-4). 

"Overall, it's a solid performance by us," Deede said about the javelin group as a whole. "I have awesome teammates, awesome competing schools that are really fun and we're all pretty good."

Junior Emma Thornley earned bronze in the women's 10,000 meters, finishing with a time of 34:17.99 to grab the Aggie women their first podium finish of the championships.

"I love competing at nighttime under the lights, Thornley said. "It was hard but I feel really good about it."

Thornley fought to keep her pace through the race despite the different strategies of her competitors.

"That was really hard," Thornley said. "When the New Mexico girl slowed down it kind of set me off my rhythm a little bit, but after a few laps I got back into rhythm and had to try and catch back up a little bit, but I re-engaged and got back into the race."

Freshman Michael Moffat and sophomore LJ Floyd rounded out the scoring for USU on Thursday as they took seventh and eighth in the men's 10,000 meters with times of 30:24.95 and 30:36.93, respectively.

In track preliminaries, five Aggies qualified for event finals on Saturday. Senior Mattie Geddes punched her ticket in the women's 800 meters with a time of 2:07.56, while freshman Landon Bott won his heat and posted the best time of the preliminaries in the men's 800 meters at 1:50.45.

Junior Maddie Edwards logged the top time in the women's 400-meter hurdles preliminaries at 58.40. That time ranks third all-time in Utah State history. 

Also in the women's 400-meter hurdles, junior Adi Nielson and senior Olivia Smith are eligible for the finals after finishing fifth and eighth with times of 59.87 and 1:00.51, respectively.

Tomorrow, Utah State will continue the MW Outdoor Championships starting with the men's decathlon at 10:30 a.m. (MT). All events will be live-streamed on the Mountain West Network.

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 9, 2024

USU Women's Results:
Hammer - 10. Ruby Jordan, 53.07 meters (174-1); 12. Milly Garren, 50.83 meters (166-9). 
800 Meters (prelims) - 7. Mattie Geddes, 2:07.56 q; 16. Marion Packer, 2:12.98.
Javelin - 4. Djamilliah Paepke-Chile, 47.05 meters (154-4); 11. Madison Tareski, 38.84 meters (127-5).
400-Meter Hurdles (prelims) - 1. Maddie Edwards, 58.40 q; 5. Adi Nielson, 59.87 q; 8. Olivia Smith, 1:00.51 q.
10,000 Meters - 3. Emma Thornley, 34:17.99; 10. Megumi Ludlow, 36:28.75; Ana Weaver, DNF.

Heptathlon (standings through four events) - 11. Sophie Chandler, 2,817 points.
100-Meter Hurdles - 10. Sophie Chandler, 15.07.
High Jump - T-9. Sophie Chandler, 1.54 meters (5-0.5).
Shot Put - 10. Sophie Chandler, 10.66 meters (34-11.75).
200 Meters - 10. Sophie Chandler, 26.59.

USU Men's Results:
800 Meters (prelims) - 1. Landon Bott, 1:50.45 q; 14. Carson Coleman, 1:53.93.
200 Meters (prelims) - 18. Joseph Douglas, 22.31.
Javelin - 2. Walker Deede, 66.36 meters (217-8); 7. Kace Jones, 58.24 meters (191-1); 8. Calvin Knapp, 52.08 meters (170-10); 9. Caden Dupee, 51.62 meters (169-4).
10,000 Meters - 7. Michael Moffat, 30:24.95; 8. LJ Floyd, 30:36.93.

Decathlon (standings through five events) - 3. Javin Richards, 3,529 points; 6. Caden Dupee, 3,211 points.
100 Meters - 2. Javin Richards, 11.12; 7. Caden Dupee, 11.73.
Long Jump - 5. Caden Dupee, 6.15 meters (20-2.25); 6. Javin Richards, 6.10 meters (20-0.25).
Shot Put - 3. Caden Dupee, 12.38 meters (40-7.5); 6. Javin Richards, 11.17 meters (36-7.75).
High Jump - 4. Javin Richards, 1.87 meters (6-1.5); 5. Caden Dupee, 1.78 meters (5-10.0).
400 Meters - 1. Javin Richards, 49.37; 7. Caden Dupee, 53.80.

-USU-