Joseph Hovey | Posted: 14 Apr 2023 | Updated: 21 Apr 2023

Seymour sets 800-meter school record, takes third at Bryan Clay

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Claire Seymour competes in the 800-meters at the 2022 NCAA Championships.

PROVO, Utah — Claire Seymour clocked a school-record time of 2:00.04 to take third in the 800-meters at the Bryan Clay Invitational on Friday.

Bryan Clay Invitational | Azusa, California | Cougar Athletic Stadium

Seymour’s performance marked the second time in as many days that a BYU women’s distance runner surpassed a 30-plus year-old program best.

The senior from Modesto, California overcame Julie Jenkins' previous school record of 2:00.50, set in 1987, jumping from No. 5 to No. 1 all-time at BYU. Seymour's time keeps her on pace at second nationally among mid-distance runners, just behind Michaela Rose of No. 2 LSU. Rose took second but was the top collegiate finisher of the night at 1:59.08. 

Seymour’s school record run is only her latest feat in addition to six-career All-American finishes including three consecutive First Team indoor citations.

Meghan Hunter also competed in the 800m, clocking 2:07.64 to finish 35th among over 120 runners.

Abby Barlow, Addi Bruening and Haley Johnston each ran in the 5,000-meters with Bruening and Johnston recording personal bests.

Bryan Clay Invitational 800-meter Top-5 Finishers
Place Name Team Time
1. Nikki Hiltz lululemon 1:59.03
2. Michaela Rose LSU 1:59.08
3. Claire Seymour BYU 2:00.04
4. Elise Cranny Nike Bowerman Track Club 2:00.25
5. Valery Tobias Texas 2:00.31

Beach Invitational | Long Beach, California | Jack Rose Track Stadium

Jessica Thompson finished runner-up in the javelin throw with a toss of 45.57-meters/149-6. Thompson came in just behind Emma Yungeberg of Michigan and ahead of North Dakota State’s Hayley Schmidt. Brekell Gammell finished in the top-10 as well, at eighth, with a mark of 44.07m/144-7.

Meredith Boggess and Maddy Eaton competed in the long jump, finishing 15th and 16th, respectively. Eaton posted a new personal-best at 5.12m/16-9.75, nearly five inches over her previous best.

BYU concludes its weekend of competition in southern California with day two of the Beach Invitational beginning at 9:30 a.m. PDT, field events at Mt. SAC starting at 1:30 p.m. and the 1,500-meters at Bryan Clay at 5 p.m.

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