4x400m school record broken at Texas Tech, three new top-10’s in Boston

PROVO, Utah – No. 21 BYU men’s track and field’s success ranged from Texas to Boston Saturday as the 4x400-meter school record was broken for the first time in eight years while three Cougars posted new top-10 marks to go along with 11 PR’s.

The 4x400m relay team – including Eli Hazlett, Trey Jackson, Spencer Carlile and Josh Taylor – clocked a 3:05.73 time to spring nearly two seconds ahead of the prior BYU record set in 2015. The performance put the team on top of the 16 other participants, including host Texas Tech’s third-ranked relay team who placed third.

The event win caps a remarkable weekend in Texas for Taylor and Jackson as it became Taylor’s second time in as many days to stand atop the BYU record books, tying Cade Lindahl’s 400m school record yesterday. Jackson finished No. 3 all-time in the 400m Friday.

In Boston, Casey Clinger and Ryan Cibart cruised into the top-10 in the mile and 800m. Clinger’s No. 4 all-time mile finish of 3:57.13 placed him third in his heat and ahead of four nationally-ranked, top-15 athletes in the group, including fifth-ranked Matthew Rizzo of Georgetown. Cibart’s 1:49.01 mark moved him to No. 7 all-time. He placed first in his heat and finished close behind three top-10 athletes from No. 20 Princeton, Northeastern, and Georgetown.

“We were really happy with the performances in Boston today,” BYU assistant distance coach Ryan Waite said. “When you come all the way out here for a meet, you do it for a purpose and the men capitalized on the opportunity. There were quite a few personal bests, and more BYU top-10 all-time marks to add to an already strong season. We love seeing those top-10 lists get stronger each meet.”

Joey Nokes and Creed Thompson pulled their weight as well in bolstering the top-10 list for the 5000m. Nokes improved on his No. 4 all-time position by over four seconds after crossing the line at 13:29.30, maintaining his position at fourth. Creed Thompson joined twin brother Davin Thompson in BYU’s top-10, jumping to No. 6 with a time of 13:34.30.

Thompson’s top-10 entry became the sixth top-10 recorded time among current roster members in the 5000m.

Additional personal records include Treyton Anderson (22.19), Trey Jackson (21.65) and Spencer Carlile (21.32) in the 200m, Dallin Thornton in the pole vault (5.21m/17-1) and Zach Erikson in the 5000m (14:10.76). All four 3000m entries for the Cougars finished with personal records – Kenneth Rooks, James Corrigan, Jacob Stanford and Garrett Stanford.

Fourth-ranked senior Caleb Witsken also competed in the pole vault Saturday, finishing second overall with a clearance of 5.56m/18-3.

The Cougars now prepare for the MPSF Indoor Championships next Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17-18 in Spokane, Washington.