Tidwell Allphin takes top spot at Aztec Invitational

SAN DIEGO — Cierra Tidwell Allphin cleared a personal-best 1.85 meters/6-0.75 as she won the high jump and highlighted BYU women’s track and field’s showing at the Aztec Invitational at SDSU Sports Deck on Saturday.

“It was just insane how well Cierra was jumping today,” said BYU jumps coach Mark Robison. “She was just unbelievable.”

Tidwell Allphin’s clearance in San Diego marked the latest rung in her ascent up the BYU top-10 board. The junior from Gilbert, Arizona is now tied for fifth all-time at BYU with Jeana Bingham (2001). Tidwell Allphin’s win came over runner-up Grace Campbell of Arizona State and fellow 2022 Second Team All-American Daniella Anglin of South Dakota.

Heading into this weekend, Tidwell Allphin’s 1.85 would lead all women’s high jumpers nationally.

Maddie Lempka also competed in the high jump, tying for ninth while nearly surpassing her personal-best at 1.65m/5-5.

Despite being unable to practice outdoors in Provo, Cailee Faulkner and Rebekah Ross each recorded top-10 finishes in pole vault.

Faulkner cleared 4.17m/13-8.25 to tie for fourth with Washington’s Sara Borton. The sophomore from Mesa, Arizona also finished ahead of Cal’s Amari Turner; Turner entered the meet ranked third nationally. Ross came within a quarter inch of tying her personal-best with an eighth-place finish at 4.02m/13-2.25.

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