BYU Set to Host Cougar Invitational

PROVO, Utah — BYU men's and women's track and field will host the Cougar Invitational January 9-11 in the Smith Fieldhouse. 

Location: George Albert Smith Fieldhouse - Provo, Utah

Dates: Thursday. Jan. 9 - Saturday. Jan. 11 

Live Results: SportTrax

Meet Schedule

Women's Preview

Maren Garnett and Rebekah Erikson are tied for No. 6 in the NCAA in the pole vault. Both women cleared 4.28m/14-0.5 at the BYU December Invitational with Garnett edging out Erikson for the win on attempts. The seniors will jump Saturday at 11:30 a.m. MT. 

"The jumps and combined events group is ready to get back into competing" said coach Tiffany Hogan. "They had a long block of training during the Christmas break. For a few of the athletes this is the first meet of the season and I’m excited to see what they can do."

Gretchen Hoekstre headlines the throws as she won all three throwing events in December. The senior from Seaside, Oregon threw 17.41m/57-1.5 in the weight throw, 16.23m/53-3 in the shot put and 52.77m/173-1.5 in the discus. All throwing events will be contested Thursday.

Sami Oblad led the sprints and hurdles group in December with a win in the 300-meters, clocking 37.88. She also placed fourth in the her debut 60m running, 7.55 for BYU's No. 8 all-time mark. The indoor and outdoor 400m school-record holder will compete in the 600-yard Thursday and the 200m Saturday.

Senior Lindsey Middleton earned a personal best of 8.73 in the 60m hurdles at the December Invitional. The senior from Provo, Utah will look to better her time Saturday. 

Men's Preview

The men's multi-event group will be headlined by Ben Barton who most recently broke the school record in the indoor heptathlon at the 2024 BYU December Invitational just before the holiday break. Barton claimed the new program No. 1 spot with 5814 points through two days of competition. 

The men's middle-distance group is entering meet week with prior success from freshman Tyler Mathews who finished first in the 500m and second in the 1000m final of the 2024 BYU December Invite. 

"Our guys did a good job over break of being consistent with their workouts and being accountable to each other," said men's distance assistant coach Ryan Waite. "We should have some good marks to start 2025 and prepare us for the meets to come."

Senior Riley Hunt is taking a prominent role in the sprints/hurdles group this season. Hunt clocked 7.92 over the 60m hurdles at the Cougars' first home meet which put him at No. 8 all-time in program records. This was his best outing in the indoor event since transferring to BYU from Cal. 

Danny Bryant is headlining the men's throws group having thrown 18.77m/61-7.0 in the shot put at the 2024 BYU December Invite. Bryant took fourth at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor National Championships with a 20.02m/65-8.25 toss. 

The men's pole vault group was led by Ethan Amata's 5.22m/17-1.5. clearance at the Cougars' first home meet. 

Up Next

Following the Cougar Invitational, both women's and men's programs will compete at the Dr. Sander Scorcher at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City Jan. 24-25.