Ayodele Ojo, Jr. Breaks School Record as Utah State Track & Field Excels at Snake River Open

Track and Field 1/16/2026 9:53:00 PM

POCATELLO, Idaho — Sophomore Ayodele Ojo, Jr. broke a 12-year-old school record as Utah State track & field claimed nine titles, 21 podium finishes and three additional performances ranking in the top 10 all-time at the Idaho State-hosted Snake River Open in Pocatello, Idaho, on Thursday and Friday.

Ojo crossed the line in 6.55 in the final of the men's 60 meters to break All-American Nic Bowen's record of 6.61, which was set in 2014. The native of Waxahachie, Texas, won his third sprint title in as many meets on Friday. He clocked in at 6.62 to lead all runners in the prelims before his record-setting final run. Ojo moved up from third in the USU record book, topping his previous best time of 6.70 from last month's BYU December Invitational, and currently ranks third in the nation in the 60 meters.

Sophomore Taite Priestley made his season debut in the high jump, winning the competition with a height of 2.12 meters (6-11.5). The two-time Mountain West bronze medalist moved into a tie for ninth in Aggie history with Ben Hoffman and former teammate Kelton Chenworth. Priestley's mark beat his previous personal best by four centimeters and ranks 16th in Division I and second in the MW.

Junior Sam Beckwith finished as the top collegian and second overall in the men's long jump with a personal-best jump of 7.36 meters (24-1.75). The reigning MW Men's Field Athlete of the Week set his second personal best in as many meets and moved into seventh all-time in Aggie history.

The women's 60-meter hurdles final saw senior Krysthina Vlahovic and junior Claire Petersen take second and third with times of 8.51 and 8.59, respectively. Petersen moved from eighth to seventh in the USU record book while Vlahovic finished 0.06 seconds shy of her own personal best, which ranks third all-time.

Junior Shelby Jensen opened her indoor campaign with a first-place finish in the mile run, crossing the line in 4:49.58 to beat the field by almost seven seconds. The outdoor All-American's performance, which converts to 4:44.06 for altitude, ranks 11th in the country so far this season.

Juniors Ernest Green and Samuel Green claimed first and second place in the 800 meters, finishing with respective times of 1:53.70 and 1:53.96. On the women's side, freshman Sally Roos took third place with her time of 2:13.75.

In the men's pole vault on Thursday, senior Marshall Rasmussen won the title with a clearance of 5.10 meters. Freshman Ethan Hammer joined him on the podium, having cleared a height of 4.95 meters (16-2.75).

In Thursday's women's pentathlon, senior Sophie Chandler topped the field with 3,491 points, while freshman Gracynn Smith took third place with 3,187 points.

Junior Landon Bott set an indoor personal best en route to winning the 400-meter title on Friday with a time of 48.81. The two-time MW champion in the 800 meters shaved 0.70 seconds off his previous best time in the two-lap race.

Sophomore Presley Gray won her second high jump title of the season, both coming at Idaho State's ICCU Dome, with her clearance of 1.73 meters (5-8).

Senior LJ Floyd, who ranks second in USU history in the men's 3,000 meters, opened his 2026 indoor season with a victory in the event, finishing in a time of 8:14.53.

Sophomores Shay Jones and Heidi Harper took second and third in the women's 400 meters, clocking in with respective times of 56.27 and 56.48. Jones posted the fourth-fastest time in the MW this season and Harper beat her previous personal best by almost three seconds.

Freshman Adia Ross, who broke the Utah State record in the 60 meters in December, took second place in her signature event with a time of 7.51, 0.03 seconds shy of her personal best.

Freshman Karina Cooper took second place in the women's pole vault with a jump of 3.85 meters (12-7.5).

In the men's mile, sophomore Jayden Holdsworth finished third in his first race on the track in an Aggie uniform, clocking in at 4:11.84.

USU's relay teams rounded out Friday's competition with top-two finishes. Utah State's men's quartet of sophomore Diego Aguirre-Stewart, sophomore Matt Hall, Bott and freshman Brock White crossed the line first in 3:19.74 and the women's 4x400-meter relay team of Jones, senior Alison Richter, graduate Annie Ivins and freshman Emmanuella Njenje took second place with a time of 3:50.35.

At the 2026 National Pole Vault Summit on Friday, senior Logan Hammer cleared 5.60 meters (18-4), finishing best among collegiate vaulters in the Elite Men 1 competition and finishing eighth overall. Hammer has cleared at least 5.60 meters (18-4) in five of his last six indoor competitions going back to the 2025 indoor season.

Utah State will split its squad next weekend at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Ted Nelson Invitational in College Station, Texas, on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 23-24.

Fans can follow the Utah State track and field programs on X at USUTF_XC, on Facebook at USUTrack and on Instagram at USUTF_XC. Aggies fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on X at USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

Snake River Open
ICCU Dome | Pocatello, Idaho | Jan. 15-16, 2026

USU Men's Results:

60 Meters (P)	1. Ayodele Ojo, Jr., 6.62; 3. David Konan, 6.75; 4. Mathew Hall, 6.79; 7. Diego Aguirre-Stewart, 6.85.
60 Meters	1. Ayodele Ojo, Jr., 6.55; 4. Mathew Hall, 6.78; 6. David Konan, 6.93.
400 Meters	1. Landon Bott, 48.81; 6. Caleb White, 51.12; 7. Brock White, 51.20; 15. Brock Parson, 52.99.
800 Meters	1. Ernest Green, 1:53.70; 2. Samuel Green, 1:53.96.
Mile	3. Jayden Holdsworth, 4:11.84; 5. Drew Hogan, 4:15.15; 8. Tayshaun Ogomo, 4:17.41; 10. Michael Amitava Maiorano, 4:17.95; 11. Caleb Armstrong, 4:18.32; 12. Logan Garnica, 4:18.99; 20. Will Dixon, 4:28.24; Jedidiah Megargel, DNF.
3,000 Meters	1. LJ Floyd, 8:14.53; 4. Joshua McKee, 8:22.02; 5. Joseph McKee, 8:23.76; 7. Garrett Woodhouse, 8:24.76; 8. Bryce Hill, 8:30.13; 12. Ethan Peterson, 8:38.62; 13. John Simmons, 8:39.78; 15. Walker Cole, 8:42.20; 26. Michael Moffat, 9:00.80; Joshua Armstrong, DNS.
High Jump	1. Taite Priestley, 2.12 meters (6-11.5).
Pole Vault	1. Marshall Rasmussen, 5.1 meters (16-8.75); 3. Ethan Hammer, 4.95 meters (16-3).
Long Jump	2. Sam Beckwith, 7.36 meters (24-1.75); 8. Kace Jones, 6.34 meters (20-9.5).
Triple Jump	Sam Beckwith, DNS.
Shot Put	7. Joseph Turner, 15.29 meters (50-2); 8. Brock Bissegger, 14.97 meters (49-1.25); 11. Caden Reagan, 13.73 meters (45-0.5); Blake Johns, FOUL.
Weight Throw	9. Joseph Turner, 15.65 meters (51-4.25); 10. Blake Johns, 14.78 meters (48-6).
4x400-Meter Relay	1. Utah State "A" (Diego Aguirre-Stewart, Mathew Hall, Landon Bott, Brock White), 3:19.74; 4. Utah State "B" (Ernest Green, Brock Parson, Caleb White, Samuel Green), 3:27.33.

USU Men's Multis Results:

Event	USU Finishers
1,000 Meters	2. Javin Richards, 3:07.18.
60 Meters	1. Javin Richards, 6.90.
60-Meter Hurdles	Javin Richards, DNF.
High Jump	1. Javin Richards, 1.87 meters (6-1.5).
Long Jump	1. Javin Richards, 6.77 meters (22-2.5).
Pole Vault	Javin Richards, DNS.
Shot Put	3. Javin Richards, 12.19 meters (39-12).
Heptathlon	Javin Richards, DNF.

USU Women's Results:

Event (Heat)	USU Finishers
60 Meters (P)	1. Adia Ross, 7.59; 6. Nia Moore, 7.84; 12. Brenly Douglas, 7.93; Elle Jacobson, DNS.
60 Meters	2. Adia Ross, 7.51; 6. Nia Moore, 7.78.
400 Meters	2. Shay Jones, 56.27; 3. Heidi Harper, 56.48; 8. Elly Jeppsen, 58.09; 9. Emmanuella Njenje, 58.19; 12. Lola Smith, 58.79; 13. Lexi Toronto, 59.16; 15. Ava Smith, 1:00.07.
800 Meters	3. Sally Roos, 2:13.75; 8. Annie Ivins, 2:18.29; 10. Jane Roos, 2:18.57; 15. Alison Richter, 2:21.48.
Mile	1. Shelby Jensen, 4:49.58; 5. Ava Trimble, 5:02.23; 6. Sarah Ellis, 5:02.57; 22. Maddie Embley, 5:24.63; Hailey Shakespear, DNF.
3,000 Meters	6. Natalie Swain, 9:59.12; 8. Malia Lowe, 10:05.21; 11. Caroline Moon, 10:10.69; 16. Meredith Sanford, 10:19.92; 21. Alayna Wardle, 10:31.13; 23. Taylor Palmer, 10:38.77; 36. Charlotte Felt, 11:18.59; Brie Smith, DNS.
60-Meter Hurdles (P)	1. Krysthina Vlahovic, 8.57; 3. Claire Petersen, 8.72.
60-Meter Hurdles	2. Krysthina Vlahovic, 8.51; 3. Claire Petersen, 8.59.
High Jump	1. Presley Gray, 1.73 meters (5-8); 9. Madeline Carmona, 1.53 meters (5-0.25).
Pole Vault	2. Karina Cooper, 3.85 meters (12-7.5); 4. Lucy Jeppson, 3.7 meters (12-1.75).
Long Jump	5. Elle Jacobson, 5.49 meters (18-0.25).
Shot Put	7. Milly Garren, 13.03 meters (42-9); 10. Ruby Jordan, 12.48 meters (40-11.25).
Weight Throw	4. Ruby Jordan, 16.68 meters (54-8.75); 18. Reagan Trulson, 12.62 meters (41-4.75); Milly Garren, FOUL.
4x400-Meter Relay	2. Utah State "A" (Shay Jones, Alison Richter, Annie Ivins, Emmanuella Njenje), 3:50.35; 4. Utah State "B" (Elly Jeppsen, Lola Smith, Ava Smith, Heidi Harper), 3:54.95; Utah State "C" (Claire Petersen, Sally Roos, Jane Roos, Lexi Toronto), DNF.

USU Women's Multis Results:

Event	USU Finishers
60-Meter Hurdles	2. Gracynn Smith, 9.15; 4. Sophie Chandler, 9.23.
800 Meters	1. Gracynn Smith, 2:21.66; 2. Sophie Chandler, 2:24.73.
High Jump	2. Sophie Chandler, 1.54 meters (5-0.75); 5. Gracynn Smith, 1.51 meters (4-11.5).
Long Jump	2. Sophie Chandler, 5.33 meters (17-5.75); 6. Gracynn Smith, 4.87 meters (15-11.75).
Shot Put	2. Sophie Chandler, 10.35 meters (33-11.5); 9. Gracynn Smith, 7.25 meters (23-9.5).
Pentathlon	1. Sophie Chandler, 3,491 points; 3. Gracynn Smith, 3,187 points.