Women's track and field puts up top times at Boston, Texas Tech meets

PROVO, Utah — BYU women’s track and field compiled 15 personal bests and four program top-10 times in a day of team and nationwide successes at two different meets on Friday.

David Hemery Valentine Invitational

BYU women’s distance runners stood out among a crowded field at Boston University Track on Friday.

"I'm really proud of a gutsy effort all around," said BYU women's distance coach Diljeet Taylor. "The sisterhood had a strong showing in Boston and I'm grateful for a good drop here." 

Aubrey Frentheway finished the night with a 15:32.82 performance to finish ninth in the 5,000-meters. Frentheway improved her personal best by nearly 10 seconds, holding her spot at No. 3 all-time at BYU. The senior from Cheyenne, Wyoming finished first among collegiate runners in an event filled with professionals from Nike, New Balance and Puma.

Sadie Sargent and Jenna Hutchins led the Cougars in the 3,000-meters with each recording a BYU top-10 time on their way to finishing top-25 in an event with 283 runners spread over 16 heats.

Sargent surged past opponents from Wake Forest, Penn State and Florida State to seize ninth place at a personal best 8:59.91. The junior from Coalville, Utah jumped to No. 4 all-time at BYU in the indoor 3,000m, clearing a time set by Erica Birk-Jarvis in 2019.

For the second time in as many weeks, Hutchins improved her 3,000m time, this week coming in at 9:05.41 to finish 21st and climb to No. 8 in program history. The freshman from Johnson City, Tennessee has notched two top-10 times in just two meets this season.

Alena Ellsworth led all American collegiate finishers in the 400-meters with a third-place finish at 53.91. Ellsworth’s time was good for a personal best and No. 4 all-time at BYU, surpassing Jennifer Rockwell Grossarth (2007). Claire Seymour and Meghan Hunter recorded personal bests as well in the 400.

Freshman Taylor Rohatinsky rose among the top of a packed 19-heat mile event as she clocked a personal record 4:33.79. Rohatinsky’s previous best came in December 2022 in the Cougars’ last trip to Boston University Track. The freshman from Highland, Utah not only improved her best by nearly nine seconds but cracked the Cougars top-10 board, jumping Birk-Jarvis for No. 5 in program history. With her performance on Friday, Rohatinsky becomes the fifth current BYU runner to leave her mark on the program’s indoor women’s mile record board.

Fellow freshman Riley Chamberlain ran 4:34.90 to take 16th in the mile while Taylor Lovell and Madi Moffitt also recorded personal bests.  

Jarvis Scott Open

BYU women’s track and field saw success in sprints, throws and long jump during its opening day at the Sports Performance Center in Lubbock, Texas.

Adaobi Tabugbo turned-on a torrid pace, blowing by opponents to win the 60-meter hurdles final at 8.30. Tabugbo’s victory is her second in the hurdles in three meets and at 8.30 matches her personal best set at the Ralph Lindeman Invitational on Jan. 21. The sophomore from Laurel, Maryland advanced to the hurdles final with an 8.41 time in the semi. In both races, Tabugbo overcame Naomi Krebs of host No. 15 Texas Tech.

Annalise Hart and Sami Oblad recorded finishes of sixth and 10th, respectively, in the 400-meters. Hart came in ahead of TCU’s Samarra Monrroy and Sam Houston’s Jackeria Woodkins. While Oblad improved her best from 55.78 to 55.68, Hart finished at 54.99; just two-hundredths of a second off tying her own personal record.

Jessica Thompson tossed a personal best 18.77m/61-7 to finish runner-up in the weight throw. Thompson not only beat the home team’s Malin Smith and Field Gatlin but climbed closer to surpassing Tipaleli Fotu (18.83m/61-9.5, 2007) for No. 4 all-time at BYU.

Freshman Maddie Passmore added another personal best to the Cougars’ total with a long jump mark of 5.60m/18-4.5 to finish sixth.

While BYU women’s distance concluded its weekend in Boston, the remainder of women’s track and field looks to notch more top marks as they continue competition at the Jarvis Scott Open on Saturday at 11 a.m. CST.