PROVO, Utah — Gretchen Hoekstre threw for a No. 3 program mark in the women's discus throw, while the men's distance crews finished on the podium in both the 3000-meter steeplechase and the 800m for BYU track and field at the Ron and Sharlene Allice Trojan Invitational.
"There were excellent performances today," said BYU director of track and field Ed Eyestone. "Wyatt Haughton and Isaac Hedengren's debuts in the steeplechase were great to see. James Corrigan had a new personal best and that was fun. Sebastian Fernandez rolled out a good 800m opener. Gretchen Hoekstre capped it off with an impressive disucs performance. Good things happened today and as long as we go out and compete we'll have a great outdoor season."
Senior Gretchen Hoekstre threw for a No. 3 program all-time mark of 55.47m/182 in the women's discus throw. Hoekstre placed third overall in the competition acheiving a new personal best in the process.
The men's 3000m steeplechase saw true freshman Wyatt Haughton cross the line first in a time of 8:50.35. James Corrigan took second within tenths of a second of Haughton. Another true freshman, Isaac Hedengren, took third in the event in 8:54.20. Caleb Johnson and Garrett Stanford placed fourth and fifth overall.
The men's 800m had five Cougars claim the first five overall spots at the finish, as well as wins in each heat. Sebastian Fernandez led the BYU acrros the line in a time of 1:48.72. True freshmen Joe Lighthall and Carter Cutting crossed next in 1:50.5 and 1:50.85, respectivley. Hayden Gray and Jake Orr rounded out the fourth and fifth overall finishes in 1:51.86. Kyle Lund also ran a 1:53.04 for the Cougars.
Aztec Invitational
A rainstorm took control of day three of the Aztec Invitational in San Diego. BYU's male pole vaulters were unable to compete in the conditions and performances were inhibited for the remainder of the jumps and multis group.
Nonetheless, Cierra Tidwell Allphin won the women's high jump with a clearance of 1.76m/5-9.25 as teammate Mayci Taylor finished fifth with a clearance of 1.71m/5-7.25. Jon Holman placed fourth in the men's high jump with a clearance of 1.91m/6-3.25 and Zoey Bonds earned a season-best time in the 100m hurdles of 14.23.
Up Next
The Cougars will split up across the country and compete in three separate meets next week. The sprints, hurdles, jumps and multis groups will head to Texas to compete at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays beginning on March 27. The distance crews will travel west to compete at the Stanford Invitational on March 29. BYU's throwers will also compete at the UVU Invitational on Friday.