BYU Women Shine on final day of Cougar Invitational

PROVO, Utah - BYU women's track and field won six events on the third and final day of the Cougar Invitational Saturday in the Smith Fieldhouse. 

Full Results

Rebekah Erikson kicked off the day for BYU winning the pole vault. As the lone Cougar to compete in the event, she jumped 4.17m/13-8.25 and secured the victory by a foot. Erikson's win marks the 10th of her career in the pole vault. 

School record holder Jaslyn Gardner ran 7.28 in the preliminary round of the 60-meter dash, just .01 off of her all-time record. Advancing to the final, she then ran 7.31 to earn a dominant win in the event. With an altitude adjustment, Gardner's mark currently places seventh in the country. 

"We are just coming back from winter break and getting back into training," said sprints and hurdles coach Kyle Grossarth. "Jaslyn's 60m was a really solid performance and I was happy with it. She still has things she can improve on and I am excited about that." 

Sophomore Taylor Lovell clocked 4:52.99 as she was the first woman to cross the line in the mile. Her teammate Alissa Fielding ran 4:57.15 to finish in second as Lizzie Dildine placed third running 5:00.17.

Junior Krystie Solomon ran the 400m for the first time of her career and won the event. Primarily an 800m runner, Solomon clocked 56.48. Behind her was freshman Elyse Jessen placing fourth in 58.21.

Sami Oblad had a personal-best time in the 200m clocking 24.67 and winning the event. Anna Hart finished less than a tenth of a second behind her in 24.74 placing second. Paje Rasmussen, Kathryn Bingham and Cate Phipps Louis all recorded personal-best times.

In the final race of the invitational, the 4x400m team of Bingham, Hart, Emily Ellis and Madelynne Taggart ran 3:52.15 to win the event. 

Up next, the sprints, jumps and throws will travel to Clemson for the Bob Pollock Invitational Jan. 26-27 as the distance squad heads back to Boston for the John Thomas Terrier Classic Jan. 26.