EUGENE, Ore. — BYU track and field saw four current program athletes and two professional alumni advance to the next rounds of the 2024 USATF Olympic Trials Friday night at Hayward Field.
Path To Paris: Six Cougars Advance on Day One of U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials
Meghan Hunter advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s 800-meters by placing sixth in her heat to earn the automatic qualification. Hunter ran 2:01.58 across the line, her third fastest time ever in the event. The Provo, Utah native entered the second lap in the eighth and final place but pushed through the final 100m stretch to secure her spot in the next round.
The first round of the men’s 3000m steeplechase saw BYU alum and Nike athlete Kenneth Rooks as well as current athlete James Corrigan secure spots to the finals on Sunday. Rooks took first in the second and final heat of the event, finishing in 8:26.90 to earn the automatic qualification.
Corrigan placed second in the first heat in 8:21.22, securing a personal best and earning the No. 2 all-time program mark, pushing past Henry Marsh’s 8:21.60 earned in 1977. Rooks holds the program record with his historic come-from-behind victory at the 2023 USATF Outdoor Championships where he fell and came back to win in 8:16.78. Corrigan was one of only three collegiate athletes in the event that advanced to the finals.
Cameron Bates advanced to the finals of the men’s javelin with a final toss of 71.39m/234-2 to place seventh place in the field out of both flights. Bates is a three-time All-American having placed eighth just two weeks prior at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships. The recently graduated senior holds the program record with a 77.17m/253-2 at the Hayward Premiere in 2021.
Lucas Bons advanced to the semifinals of the men’s 1500m with a time-qualifying 3:37.99 performance. Bons is a First Team All-American from the 2024 indoor track season, taking third in the mile in 3:58.60.
Whittni Morgan advanced to the finals of the women’s 5000m with a fourth-place finish in her semifinal heat to earn the automatic spot. Morgan crossed the line in 15:18.67 just behind Parker Valby of Florida who earned the NCAA 5000m and 10,000m titles two weeks prior. Morgan raced the 5000m only one time prior to Friday since sustaining a knee injury in early 2023.
The men’s 10,000m saw Casey Clinger and Creed Thompson compete alongside Nike athlete and BYU alum Conner Mantz. Clinger and Mantz finished together, finishing fifth and sixth respectively. Thompson finished in 17th with 29:06.38. Mantz led the front half of the race before the field broke open and fellow Nike athlete Grant Fisher took the win.
After redshirting cross country, indoor and outdoor seasons in 2024, and a year’s absence from racing due to injury, Clinger still improved on the program’s fifth-fastest 10,000m with a finish in 27:59.71.
Jaslyn Gardner raced 11.56 in the first round of the women’s 100m but did not advance to the semi-finals. She was named a Second Team All-American in the 100m at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Gardner finished her career as a Cougar with four school records in the indoor 60 and 200m, along with the outdoor 100 and 200m.
Danny Bryant threw 18.59m/61-0 in the qualifying round of the men’s shot put but fell short of advancing. Bryant concluded his junior season with a First Team All-American performance at the 2024 NCAA National Championships where he recorded the program’s third-longest all-time shot put at 20.02m/65-8.25.
Quotes
Ed Eyestone - BYU Director of Track and Field
"Tonight was track and field’s version of the game Survivor…. and we played extremely well! Cam started it by finishing fourth in his flight of the javelin to advance and Megan closed hard in the 800m to advance to the semis! The steeplechase was a masterclass in advancing with James earning a personal best by seven seconds to almost win his heat and move to No.2 all time in the steeple at BYU in doing so. Rooks followed that by winning his heat in a methodical race and setting up a steeplechase final featuring two Cougars. Bons was in the fastest heat of the 1500m and didn’t give up to sprint to qualify for the semi final by time. Whittni Morgan ran the most controlled race of the evening, easily qualifying and saving her best for the final. In the 10k final, Conner Mantz furthered his marathon training by grinding the pace up front while Casey Clinger patiently responded to moves before passing Mantz late to finish fifth and sixth against the best 10k runners in the country. I couldn’t be more proud of the way our Cougars and former Cougars battled!"
Kenneth Rooks - Nike Athlete and former BYU Steeplechaser
“I probably moved a little bit too much early on in the race, but I didn’t want to get stuck back in a bad position. It was a little hectic, but it was good. I got the win, I feel good and I’m excited for the final on Sunday. I’m hoping to make my first Olympic team.”
James Corrigan - Men's Steeplechase
"That race was awesome. I felt like I was starting to show what I’ve been doing in practice, and was happy to advance while running a fantastic time. That opportunity to do both doesn’t always present itself in roun- running, so I’m grateful for that. I'm in the best form of this season, and with some experience under my belt I’m more than thrilled to race the final come Sunday."
Cameron Bates - Men’s Javelin
“Obviously I’m super happy with the result of being seventh in the qualifying round. I had my best throw in my last round, so I was proud of that. For the finals on Sunday, I want to make sure I can get a better one earlier. I’m excited to make my first Olympic trials final and look forward to seeing what I can do on Sunday.”
Diljeet Taylor - BYU Associate Director of Track and Field
“We are excited that Meghan advanced to the semifinals. This round was good to shake the nerves out. She ran a great last 80-meters to close the gap and move onto the next round.
Lucas Bons - Men's 1500m
"The first round was a little harder than I expected, but I did what I needed to do to advance. I’m ready to put it all out there tomorrow to make the final.
Up Next
The Cougars will continue competition on day two of the 2024 USATF Olympic Trials with Cierra Tidwell Allphin competing in the women’s high jump and Lucas Bons in the semifinals of the men’s 1500m. Find the updated competition schedule, live results and streaming information on the Meet Central page.