SAN DIEGO – BYU men’s track and field competed at San Diego State’s Aztec Invitational Saturday, with a strong showing from the pole vaulters.

Returning 2022 Outdoor All-American Caleb Witsken took second in the pole vault, posting a clearance of 5.45m/17-10.5. With the mark, Witsken is now No. 2 in the nation among all NCAA Division I pole vaulters so far in the outdoor season. 

The Cougars’ success in the pole vault didn’t stop with Witsken, as Nathan Burnett posted a new personal-best, 5.15m/16-10.75 clearance to finish fourth. Both Burnett and Witsken finished ahead of two Outdoor All-Americans from last year – South Dakota’s Eerik Haamer and Washington’s Jacob Englar (seventh-place tie). Ben Barton also competed, recording a personal record as he cleared the bar at 4.35m/14-3.25.

“Considering we’ve yet to practice outdoors due to weather, I thought our squad did amazing,” BYU men’s track and field pole vault coach Rick McWhorter said. “Caleb and Nathan jumped regional qualifying marks while Ben Barton had a double PR in the pole vault which will improve his chances of making it to nationals in the decathlon. Overall, it was an excellent day.”

On top of the pole vault, Barton notched personal-bests in two more events Saturday: the 110-meter hurdles and 100-meter dash. His 14.39 time in the 110m hurdles was good for ninth overall in a race that included nationally-ranked, No. 2 Ethan Exilhomme of Northeastern who finished first. Barton’s time of 10.68 in the 100m beat his previous best by 0.34 seconds. Both prior personal records were set in April 2019.

BYU jumps, throws, sprints and hurdles next head to the 95th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin, Texas March 29-April 1. Men's distance will return to action March 31-April 1 at the Stanford Invitational.

PROVO, Utah – After six combined event wins at Stanford last weekend, BYU men’s and women’s track and field heads to its second outdoor meet at the Aztec Invitational in San Diego, Calif. this Saturday.

Meet Information

• Host: San Diego State
• Location: SDSU Sports Deck
• Women’s events begin with the javelin throw at 9:00 a.m. PDT and conclude with the 200m at 4:00 p.m.
• Men’s events begin with the pole vault at 10:00 a.m. and conclude with the discus throw at 4:00 p.m.
• Live Results
• Tickets will be sold Friday and Saturday for $10.00 cash each day at the Ticket Office near the track entrance. Ages 12 and under are free.
• Parking
  • Parking is available in Parking Structure (PS) 7, located directly underneath the track.
• Additional Information

Last Time Out…

The men had four event wins last Saturday: the 400-meter hurdles, 3,000-meter steeplechase, javelin and discus throw. The Cougars also registered 11 top-three finishes in a day that saw numerous athletes debut in their outdoor collegiate careers.

Spencer Carlile led the way in the 400m hurdles among a field of 14 competitors as he crossed the line at 51.95. James Corrigan kicked off his first-ever outdoor competition with a time of 9:11.37 to finish atop the steeplechase, while Dallin Shurts placed first in the discus throw (58.61m/192-3) with a heave nearly 20 feet ahead of second-place. Cameron Bates claimed victor in the javelin with a 74.9m/245-9 mark.

The women posted three event wins, led by defending national champion Ashton Riner-Lunt. The senior tossed her way to a first-place finish with a 52.89m/173-6 mark. Jessica Thompson won the shot put with a throw of 15.26m/50-0.75 as distance runner Lizzie Dildine also took first in her event, finishing atop the 3,000m steeplechase (10:40.00).

Thompson added to a productive day by taking second in the javelin throw at 47.10m/154-6, while the Cougars racked up additional runner-up finishes in the 200-meters and 100-meter hurdles (Adaobi Tabugbo), the 800-meters (Meghan Hunter) and steeplechase (Destiny Everett).