Multis, throws highlight day one of indoor home meet

PROVO, Utah — BYU men’s and women’s track and field opened its January home meet with the pentathlon, heptathlon and throws at the Smith Fieldhouse and Indoor Practice Facility on Thursday.

“I’m pleased, our athletes did well today and showed a lot of improvement,” said BYU multis coach Mark Robison.

The men’s team fielded three competitors on the day as multi-athletes Dallin Vorkink and Ben Barton wrapped up four of the seven total heptathlon events that will be continued Friday. Barton, a sophomore from Birmingham, Michigan, finished first twice (60m, high jump) while two-time All-American Vorkink bested all competition in the shot put (13.47m/44-2.25).

Barton's 60m time of 6.99 marked a new personal best.

Sophomore Harrison Gould represented the throwers, posting a 15.13m/49-7.75 in the shot put to take seventh overall.

Maddy Eaton and Tori Lord represented the Cougars in the pentathlon. Despite finishing seventh and 10th, respectively, Eaton and Lord showed progress after their collegiate debut in December.

Eaton set personal bests in four of five events, including a runner-up finish in the 800m as she shaved off nearly six seconds to finish at 2:26.52. Lord came in third with a personal-best 2:29.12. Eaton also finished top-3 in the 60m hurdles with a personal record 9.39.

Both BYU women also set personal bests in the pentathlon overall score with finals of 3,038 (Eaton) and 2,913 (Lord).

Jessica Thompson also competed in the weight throw and shot put, finishing third and fourth, respectively.