ST. GEORGE, Utah — Utah State track & field claimed five titles and 14 podium finishes while posting two performances that rank in the top-10 in school history at the season-opening Utah Tech Invitational in St. George, Utah, on Saturday.
 
Junior Claire Petersen won the 100-meter hurdles as she crossed the line in 13.74, good for ninth in USU history. The Idaho Falls, Idaho native, who led all Aggie athletes with six top-10 performances during the indoor season, made her first career appearance in the outdoor record book. Senior Krysthina Vlahovic took second in the competition with a time of 14.01.
 
Sophomore Shay Jones ran the 200 meters in 24 seconds flat to take second place in the women's field. Jones, who also ranks fifth all-time in the 400 meters, posted a 200-meter time that ranks eighth in Utah State history in the event.
 
Sophomore Taite Priestley won the men's high jump and broke the Utah Tech facility record with his leap of 2.10 meters (6-10.75). The three-time MW bronze medalist bested BYU's Hayden Gribble on tiebreakers.
 
Junior Sam Beckwith claimed a pair of event titles in the men's long jump and triple jump, clearing respective distances of 7.11 meters (23-4) and 12.41 meters (40-8.75). Beckwith, who holds the Utah Tech facility record in the triple jump, won his fourth and fifth career event titles on the Greater Zion Stadium runways.
 
Junior Joseph Turner took first place in the men's shot put and second in the discus with his respective throws of 16.55 meters (54-3.75) and 51.76 meters (169-9).
 
In their first javelin competitions of 2026, senior Valerie Clark and junior Walker Deede brought home a pair of podium finishes. Clark posted a throw of 46.44 meters (152-4) to finish runner-up in the women's competition and Deede launched a throw of 64.64 meters (212-1) to finish second in the men's field.
 
Saturday also marked the return of the 3,000-meter steeplechase to the event list. Junior Camilla McKinstry took second place in the women's competition and bested the previous facility record with her time of 10:36.16. Freshman Henry Tait made his Aggie outdoor debut with a second-place time of 9:19.62.
 
The women's 4x100-meter relay squad of Petersen, Jones and freshmen Nia Moore and Adia Ross took second place, carrying the baton across the line in 46.74.
 
Graduate Annie Ivins claimed a third-place finish in the women's 400 meters with her career-best time of 56.05.
 
The Aggies will stay in the Beehive State next week as they compete at the UVU Collegiate Invitational in Orem, Utah, on Thursday, March 26.
 
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.
 
Utah Tech Invitational
Greater Zion Stadium | St. George, Utah | March 21, 2026
 
USU Men's Results:
 

Event	USU Finishers
400 Meters	19. Javin Richards, 52.50.
5,000 Meters	4. Michael Moffat, 14:29.10; 7. Walker Cole, 14:49.56; 9. John Simmons, 14:56.42.
110-Meter Hurdles	9. Javin Richards, 14.87.
3,000-Meter Steeplechase	2. Henry Tait, 9:19.62; Michael Amitava Maiorano, DNF.
High Jump	1. Taite Priestley, 2.10 meters (6-10.75).
Long Jump	1. Sam Beckwith, 7.11 meters (23-4); 7. Javin Richards, 6.55 meters (21-6); Kace Jones, DNS.
Triple Jump	1. Sam Beckwith, 12.41 meters (40-8.75).
Discus	2. Joseph Turner, 51.76 meters (169-9); 5. Caden Reagan, 47.96 meters (157-4); 17. Blake Johns, 39.03 meters (128-0); 18. Brock Bissegger, 38.65 meters (126-9).
Javelin	2. Walker Deede, 64.64 meters (212-1); 4. Kace Jones, 61.59 meters (202-0); 9. Javin Richards, 48.72 meters (159-10).
Shot Put	1. Joseph Turner, 16.55 meters (54-3.75); 5. Brock Bissegger, 15.57 meters (51-1); 11. Caden Reagan, 14.01 meters (45-11.75); Blake Johns, NM.

 
USU Women's Results:
 

Event	USU Finishers
100 Meters	6. Adia Ross, 12.12; 9. Nia Moore, 12.31; Elle Jacobson, DNS.
200 Meters	2. Shay Jones, 24.00; 8. Heidi Harper, 25.10; Adia Ross, 25.66; Nia Moore, DNS.
400 Meters	3. Annie Ivins, 56.05; 4. Heidi Harper, 56.42.
800 Meters	5. Jane Roos, 2:17.12.
1,500 Meters	12. Taylor Palmer, 4:41.85; 13. Malia Lowe, 4:41.86; 16. Liz Phillips, 4:46.45; 21. Maddie Embley, 4:53.28.
100-Meter Hurdles	1. Claire Petersen, 13.74; 2. Krysthina Vlahovic, 14.01; 13. Gracynn Smith, 14.94.
400-Meter Hurdles	4. Claire Petersen, 1:00.05; 9. Gracynn Smith, 1:02.15; 10. Lola Smith, 1:02.40; 12. Elly Jeppsen, 1:03.18; Ava Smith, DNS.
3,000-Meter Steeplechase	2. Camilla McKinstry, 10:36.16.
4x100-Meter Relay	2. Utah State (Claire Petersen, Shay Jones, Nia Moore, Adia Ross), 46.74.
High Jump	7. Madeline Carmona, 1.56 meters (5-1.25).
Long Jump	Elle Jacobson, DNS.
Discus	4. Milly Garren, 43.80 meters (143-8); 11. Ruby Jordan, 40.30 meters (132-2); 16. Reagan Trulson, 33.61 meters (110-3).
Javelin	2. Valerie Clark, 46.44 meters (152-4); 4. Mary Bryan, 43.77 meters (143-7).
Shot Put	5. Milly Garren, 13.88 meters (45-6.5); 17. Ruby Jordan, 12.64 meters (41-5.75).

 
-USU-