Fletcher's win highlights big weekend for track and field

AUSTIN, Texas – Aaron Fletcher led the BYU track and field team this weekend, taking first place in the steeplechase at the Nike Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.

“Whenever you have an event champion it’s a huge deal,” BYU track and field director of operations Ryan Waite said. “This meet is historic – it’s been around for a really long time and some of the best people in the world come and compete here. When you can walk away with one of the shirts that say ‘Texas Relay Champion’ – you kind of become a celebrity here in Austin.”

Fletcher had a time of 8:47.20 in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase. It was a new personal record for Fletcher and he is projected to qualify for the NCAA West Prelims with that time.

Other top performances in Texas on the men’s side this weekend included Mark Carlson (400m hurdles) and Max Scheible (400m hurdles). Carlson ran the event in 51.60 while Scheible ran 52.00. Both times should get them to regionals.

Shaquille Walker (46.67 in the 400m) and Dennis Christensen (17.10m in the shot put) both placed first in their individual events at the Stanford Invitational. Walker, along with Marcus Dickson (3:44.73 in the 1,500m), Chase Horrocks (3:45.28 in the 1,500m), Connor McMillan (29:15 in the 10,000m), Spencer Hanson (29:22 in the 10K), Jonathan Harper (29:26 in the 10K) and Clayton Young (29:34 in the 10K) are all projected to make it in to the NCAA West Prelims with their performances this weekend.

On the women’s side, Elizabeth Adams had a big performance in Stanford. She took fourth overall in the javelin throw with a mark of 44.08m, which should qualify her for regionals. Madison Pachner finished third overall in the discus with a mark of 52.64m. It is good for No. 5 all-time in BYU outdoor history and should get her to the regional meet. Lauren Ellsworth had a season-best time of 2:07.65 in the 800m.

Two more regional-qualifying times came out of the Texas Relays for the women’s squad. Kaylee Packham ran the 400m hurdles in 59.29 and Alyssa Monteverde-Dalton covered the 100m hurdles in 13.56.

Lauren Shubin finished off the regional-qualifying performances from the weekend when she completed the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:32.77 at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival.

A few BYU athletes also competed at the UVU Invitational. Diamond Thomas (100m), Andrea Stapleton (high jump) and Kylee Trageser (pole vault) each took first place in their respective events.

After just three weeks of the outdoor season, the Cougars now have a total of 28 potential regional-qualifying athletes.  

“I think all in all it was a really nice weekend for us,” BYU track and field head coach Ed Eyestone said. “I was impressed by our team’s attitude. They treated it like a business trip, and, for the most part, everyone took care of business.”

Visit the BYU men’s track and field schedule page for complete meet results from this weekend.

Up next for BYU track and field is the Utah Spring Classic/Weber State Invitational in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Sun Angel Classic in Tempe, Arizona, next Friday and Saturday.