ST. GEORGE — The times just keep coming down and the performances continue to improve for the Utah Tech University women’s track and field team.
After hosting an invitational in late March, the Trailblazers have enjoyed success at the Vince O’Boyle Classic in Irvine, California, and the UNLV Rebels Elite Invitational in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Utah Tech’s Averie Perriton, a freshman from Cheyenne, Wyoming, captured the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Las Vegas meet April 6 and the Blazers placed fourth overall as a team. Along the way, Perriton set a school record with a time of 11 minutes, 7.09 seconds, to best Skyler Storie’s former program best by 13 seconds.
Meanwhile, the Trailblazer 4×400-meter relay team of Megan Jenkins, Addi Wyatt, Kelly Denninghoff and Whitney Christiansen shaved 2 seconds off the school record to place third in 3:49.32.
Middle-distance specialist Lexi Larsen was second in the 1,500-meter run (4:48). The week before at the Irvine meet, Larsen lowered her own school record in the event, winning in 4:39.52. Christiansen also was victorious at the California meet and captured the open 400 in a blistering 56.93. Ashlyn Parish was the runnerup in the 100-meter hurdles (13.89).
On the men’s side in Las Vegas, six Trailblazers finished in the top eight in the 1,500 meters led by Kyle Neuenschwander in third while Ryan Newton checked in eighth in the 800 meters.
Southern Utah University made its mark in Las Vegas as well, with the men winning the overall team race and the women placing third.
Leading the way for the Thunderbirds was 400-meter dash ace Jaedyn Carpenter, who went 45.94 to set a school record, win the event and later be named the Western Athletic Conference’s Men’s Track Athlete of the Week
“Jaedyn’s performance this weekend was one of the best in the country,” SUU head coach Eric Houle said in a news release. “He will be very competitive at the national level.”
Thurnderbird Lance Larsen ran 4:00.00 to win the 1,500 meters, while Carpenter led a Southern Utah 1-4 sweep in the 400. Finishing behind him were Dylan Gibson, Nelson Douglas and Nick Pembroke 46.28, 48.01 and 48.33 seconds, respectively.
“What an outstanding day for the team,” Houle said. “It was nice competing in warm weather at UNLV. The athletes took advantage of it with some exceptional performances.”
The relay team of Pembroke, Jace Rodgers, Ashton Miller and Jared Sharp took the top spot in the 4×400 with a time of 3:15.06. Other winners included Bronis MacDougall (javelin, 208-1), Dylan Gibson (200, 21.20) and Ashton Miller (400 hurdles, 53.21).
The SUU women placed third overall behind winner UNLV and runnerup Northern Arizona.
Event winners included Emelia Thurston (long jump, 18-10), Rebecca Hazelet (hammer throw, 192-3) and Makenna Skoczylas (pole vault, 11-6.50).
Next up for Utah Tech will be the SUU Coliseum Championships in Cedar City on April 20. The Thunderbirds compete at the Brian Clay Invitational at Asuza Pacific University Thursday-Saturday before hosting the coliseum meet.
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