Big Weekend, Bigger Records for Utah Track and Field
University of Utah junior distance runner Sarah Newton (5) readied up prior to the start of the final heat of the Women’s 800 meter run in an NCAA Track and Field meet at the McCarthey Family Track and Field Complex in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 13.(Photo by Curtis Lin | Daily Utah Chronicle)
February 15, 2020
The University of Utah track and field team had another spectacular showing this weekend participating in three events.
The first day of competition was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the Don Kirby Invite. The day was filled with terrific times, including Whitney Hessler and Oneillia Fuller in the 600m race. They took second and third place overall.
The great performances did not stop during the second day of the Don Kirby Invite. The biggest win came in the last event when Utah’s 4x400m-relay team set an unbelievable new school record. They took third overall with a time of 3:41.25. The members of the team were Fuller, Lauren O’Banion, Skyler Blair and Jackie Martin.
“That’s a huge race for those gals … it was just awesome and I am so proud of them. They have been aiming for that all year and even from last year so I’m really excited and a great job by them,” said head coach Kyle Kepler to Utah Athletics.
The action continued for the Utes Friday afternoon in Seattle at the Husky Classic. In the 3K, Cara Woolnough finished in the Top 10 of her heat with a new personal record of 9:41.17. Scarlet Dale also made her debut in the 5k. She finished with a time of 16:59.51, which landed her a spot in the 54th place.
The final day may have been the best yet for the Utes with the final day of the Husky Classic and the Weber State Invite. The Weber State Invite saw another debut in the form of Karli Branch, who placed 13th in the mile race with a time of 5:27.13. Out of four entries in the 3k event, three finished in the Top 10. Ellie Lundgreen placed fifth, Emma Christensen placed seventh, Grace Burnett placed 10th. Ally Gomm also posted a new personal record in the 400m race with a time of 1:00.07, earning her third overall.
At the Husky Classic the same day, more records were ready to be broken. Sarah Newton posted a new personal record in the mile with a time of 4:42.24 and was 16th place in a field of 77. Newton is now third in all-time school history. Sophie Ryan also set a new personal record with a time of 4:49.63.
Next weekend the Utes will send Kolbi Sims to compete at the UW Last Chance Meet while another squad will compete in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
