BYU set to host Cougar Invitational Thursday-Saturday

PROVO, Utah - BYU track and field will host the Cougar Invitational Jan. 11-13 at the Smith Fieldhouse and Indoor Practice Facility. The invitational will bring in teams from around the state of Utah, including Utah Valley, Southern Utah, Utah Tech and Salt Lake Community College. 

"Having a meet at home the first week back is great for us," said assistant coach Ryan Waite. "The student athletes can sleep in their own beds, compete on the track they practice on everyday and eliminate the stressor of traveling. It will be good to see where everyone is at after the holidays before we head to some big meets on the east coast at the end of the month."

 

Men's Preview

Coming off of a short winter break, the men's team will return to action this weekend with many sights set on breaking program indoor records.

To open up the season a month ago, sprinter Dallin Draper ran a 6.73 in the men's 60-meter dash to come just shy of the Cougars' top-10 board. Draper acheived a personal best in the event, besting his previous performance of 6.81 he clocked back in January of 2022.

The men's distance team will see multiple Cougars with their first outings of the season. The mile will be headlined by Aidan Troutner, who ran a 4:01.72 in the same event at last year's Cougar Invitational. Lucas Bons also brings depth to the roster, having run a 7:53.71 in the 3000-meter at the Boston University Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener at the beginning of last December. 

Senior Christian Allen will return to the program following a brief hiatus since the 2023 outdoor track season. He was actively competing for Team USA on the trail running circuit through last fall. The distance runner has plans to run in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Team Trial in just under a month, an event headlined by former Cougars Conner Mantz and Clayton Young. Allen is set to race in the 3000-meter this weekend. 

Women's Preview

Entering a new calendar year, the BYU women return to indoor competition as they host in the Smith Fieldhouse and IPF this weekend. 

At the December Invitational, senior Cierra Tidwell Allphin broke a 34 year-old school record in the high jump, clearing 1.89m/6-2.5. Tidwell Allphin's mark continues to stand as the No. 1 jump in the NCAA this season. She will jump at 1:30 pm on Friday. 

Also at the December Invitational, Rebekah Erikson cleared 4.33m/14-2.5 in the pole vault, good for No. 2 all-time at BYU. Her mark currently ranks fourth in the NCAA. Erikson will compete at 11:30 am Saturday morning. 

Other top-10 marks in the NCAA this season include Meghan Hunter's No. 1 ranking in 800-meters after clocking a 2:03.54 time at the Boston University Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Mayci Taylor ranks No. 4 in the pentathlon, scoring 3,896 points at the December Invitational. Jenna Hutchins ranks No. 8 in the 5,000-meters at 15:37.97 and Riley Chamberlain ranks No. 9, running 9:00.17. 

Up Next

Following the Cougar Invitational, the distance team will return to Boston for the John Thomas Terrier Classic on Jan. 26 as the sprints, jumps, throws and multis travel to Clemson for the Bob Pollock Invitational Jan. 26-27.