USU runners do well at Boise State Bronco Classic
Five Utah State track and field athletes won event titles at the Boise State Bronco Classic in Nampa, Idaho, on Saturday.
Freshman Rachel Orr won the women’s high jump with a jump of 1.70 meters (5 feet, 7 inches). Sophomore Sam Nielson won the women’s triple jump in 11.91 (39-1). Senior Spela Hus won the women’s shot put with a new personal-best toss of 14.78 (48-6). Junior Bailee Whitworth won the women’s 200-meter dash with a time of 24.32 seconds. Sophomore Silas Pimentel ran the Western Athletic Conference’s fastest time this year in the 60 with a time of 6.85.
USU head coach Greg Gensel said many of his athletes had great performances.
“Some of them may not have had their marks improve,” Gensel said, “but they’ve improved in other ways with consistency and that kind of thing. Some of our sprinters were working on their speed phases this week, and they had really good days.”
Junior Aubrie Haymore took second in the women’s 200 with a 24.75, and senior Katelyn Heiner tied for third in a time of 24.81 with UCLA’s Kylie Price. Running unattached, Michael Pyrtle took third in the men’s 60 with a 6.97. Pimentel took third in the 200 with a 21.67 and sophomore A.J. Boully took fifth in 22.07.
“They’ve built on what they’ve been practicing,” he said. “I think we’ve put ourselves in a good position.”
Gensel said the Bronco Classic helped prepare the team for the WAC Championships from Feb. 23-25 in two ways.
“One, it is getting closer to the conference meet,” he said. “We’re starting to get the kids completely ready and rested for that meet. Two, that’s the facility that we’re going to have the conference championship on, so it’s always nice to get familiar with the track and everything.”
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu