Five BYU women receive Track and Field Academic All-District honors

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Five BYU women’s track and field athletes were awarded Academic All-District honors by College Sports Communicators, the organization announced on Wednesday.

Distance runners Aubrey Frentheway and Meghan Hunter were honored as were pole vaulter Rebekah Ross, thrower Jessica Thompson and high jumper Cierra Tidwell Allphin.

Each of the five BYU recipients now advances to CSC’s national ballot. Following the voting period, the organization will announce its Academic All-Americans on June 28.

Frentheway holds a 3.62 GPA as a student in BYU’s David O. McKay School of Education. The senior from Cheyenne, Wyoming emphasized in mathematics education in the classroom while specializing in long distance events on meet day.

Frentheway began the 2022-23 athletic season winning the West Coast Conference Women’s Cross Country Individual Championship along with earning her third-consecutive All-American finish at the NCAA Cross Country National Championships. During indoor track and field season, Frentheway finished as a Second Team All-American in the 5,000-meters and her worked her way to No. 3 all-time at BYU in the event with a time of 15:32.82.

Frentheway most recently advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 10,000-meters after breaking her own school record with a time of 32:28.85 at the NCAA West Preliminary on May 25.  

Hunter graduated from BYU in April with a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders and a 3.87 GPA. Hunter powered 4x400-meter relay squad to an outdoor nationals’ berth and an MPSF Indoor Track and Field Championship. The Provo, Utah native ran the opening leg of the relay at the NCAA West Preliminary on May 27 and helped the Cougars advance to nationals with a school-record time of 3:32.88. Hunter will also compete in the 800m at outdoor nationals after clocking a qualifying 2:05.35.

Hunter will pursue a master’s degree in communication disorders at BYU and continue to compete for the Cougars with her remaining eligibility in 2023-24.

Ross posted a 3.95 GPA as a mathematics major. The sophomore from Spokane, Washington reached her second straight NCAA West Preliminary and registered two BYU top-10 pole vault clearances. Ross ranks No. 4 all-time for the Cougars in both the indoor (4.22m/13-10) and outdoor (4.27m/14-0) pole vault.

Thompson majors in biology and boasts a 3.99 GPA. The junior from Plains, Montana reached the west regional meet in both shot put and javelin throw while also winning the MPSF’s women’s weight throw championship during indoor season. Thompson’s season-best throws included 47.10m/154-6 in the javelin and 16.27m/53-4.5 in the shot put. Her season-best shot put mark was also good for No. 2 all-time at BYU.

Tidwell Allphin majors in wildlife and wildlands conservation with a 3.86 GPA. The high jumper earned her second-consecutive indoor First Team All-American honor with a clearance of 1.82m/5-11.5 at indoor nationals in Albuquerque, New Mexico on March 10.

Tidwell Allphin went on to ascend up the Cougars’ high jump top-10 board during outdoor season, rising to No. 2 all-time at BYU with a clearance of 1.88m/6-2 on April 15 at Mt. SAC Relays. The junior from Gilbert, Arizona is ranked third nationally in the women’s high jump and will compete for a national title in Austin, Texas on June 10.