Aggie Track and Field hosts Faldmo Invitational
The Utah State track and field team welcomed eight teams from universities across the state and region to Logan as it hosted the Mark Faldmo Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
In the two-day meet, USU fared well, earning 13 event titles and 35 top-three finishes. This was the lone home meet of the season for the Aggies.
“Being at home is an awesome feeling,” said Utah State sophomore thrower Brenn Flint. “You have your friends and family out to support, and there’s a lot more cheering and everyone can be here to support, whereas when you’re out on the road you’re kind of on your own. It’s awesome.”
The Aggies began the meet Friday afternoon, participating in the men’s and women’s hammer throw, javelin, and 5,000 meter events. USU notched seven top-three finishes on the day, including one first place finish as Aggie freshman Haydon Cooper captured the men’s 5,000 meter crown. His teammate and fellow freshman Coen Haroldsen finished closely behind for second place in the event.
Utah State sophomore Kyle Morris threw for 64.97 meters in the men’s javelin event, a mark which places seventh-best in program history. This landed him in second place in the event, finishing only behind former Aggie thrower Devin Wright, who competed as an unattached athlete.
On Saturday, the Aggies got out to a strong start as they took the top two spots in the women’s shot put event, with Flint earning another event title while her teammate, senior Olivia Moriconi, landed in second. USU’s women’s shot put squad currently ranks first in the nation
“I think it adds even more motivation just to try and keep that number one spot,” Flint said of the ranking. “We’ve been working hard the past couple of weeks and it was nice to see us come out and do well.”
The success in the field continued as USU athletes took first and second in the women’s triple jump, freshman Bailey Maseda winning the event with a personal record of 11.41 meters and fellow Aggie freshman Whitney Skabelund placing narrowly behind with a mark of 11.37 meters.
Aggie junior Sam Nelson recorded the sixth-highest outdoor mark in program history in the men’s pole vault, capturing the event title with a vault of 5.17 meters. Junior Leaugen Fray was the champion in both men’s long jump and high jump. Senior David Hirschmann had a season-best throw of 17.57 meters.
“I am pretty happy with my performance and the performance of the team,” Hirschmann said. “Overall, the whole team is moving in the right direction. We’re very motivated, and we’re doing pretty well.”
In the track events, freshman Katie Struthers earned the first USU title of the day by winning the 3000 meter steeplechase. She was joined by senior Tylee Newman-Skinner and junior Shannon Maloney, who won the 1,500 meter and 3,000 meter events respectively, as Aggie women to earn track titles on Saturday.
The USU team of Jordan Brandt, Breann Bate, Kasia Lawrynowicz, and Melanie Muncy won the women’s 4X400 meter relay title with a time of 3:46.38.
On the men’s side, sophomore Samuel Coleman picked up a victory in the 1,500 meter event, while freshman Stokton Smith finished first in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. The Aggie relay team of Garen Earley, Braden Kram, Austin Lane, and Junior Tovar won the men’s 4X100 relay with a time of 41.41 seconds.
Utah State head coach Matt Ingebritsen said he is happy with how the team is performing with just under a month until the Mountain West Outdoor Championships. Ingebritsen, along with fellow Aggie coach Artie Gulden, was named head coach of the program just two weeks ago after serving as an interim coach for several months.
“I think we’re probably about where I would want them mid-season,” Ingebritsen said. “We’re starting to unload just slightly and seeing times go down and marks go up, and that’s what we want to see right now. I think in four weeks we’re going to be ready to roll.”
The Aggies will now split up as they head to three separate meets next weekend, sending competitors to the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif, along with the Mt. SAC Relays in Torrance, Calif. and the Beach Invitational in Long Beach, Calif. The Mountain West Outdoor Championships will take place May 9-12 in Fresno, Calif.