BOSTON — BYU track and field had program top-10 performances from Aidan Troutner and Lucas Bons at the John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University on Friday.
"I'm super proud of our guys today," said director of track and field Ed Eyestone. "Bons had an amazing race. To come back after two tough physcial years and have this performance is amazing. Proud of Troutner and finishing strong. There's a lot of great things happening for him right now. I'm very happy with everybody today."
Aidan Troutner ran BYU's second-fastest 3000-meters all-time as he crossed the finish at 7:44.16. Troutner surpassed his coach, Ed Eyestone, who ran 7:45.16* in 1985. The No. 1 spot is currently held by Casey Clinger who ran a 7:43.96 last season. Troutner is just two weeks removed from running a sub-four-minute mile at the Cougar Invitational in Provo, Utah.
Lucas Bons improved upon his personal best in the mile with a time of 3:54.82. Bons set his previous best of 3:55.45 at the 2021 Husky Classic in Seattle, Washington. The junior from Dublin, Ohio ranks second all-time at BYU in the indoor mile behind only BYU Hall of Famer Miles Batty's school-record 3:54.54 set in 2012.
"Getting a personal best after two years of health struggles was pretty indescribable," Bons said. "The race was tough but I just hung in there and trusted in my training. I'm so grateful for a coach and support crew who didn't stop believing in me. Being on this team raises me to the best I can bd and we're just getting started."
Bons placed fifth overall against competition that included three professional runners in the top-five spots. Northern Arizona's Colin Sahlman ran 3:53.17 to take take the title.
The men's 5000m saw Joey Nokes run a 13:49.14. A pack of freshmen led by Isaac Hedengren followed Nokes with Hedengren finishing at 14:01.95.
Other notable performances came from freshmen Joseph Lighthall, Zarek Proffit and Wyatt Haughton.
Lighthall achieved a new personal best of 1:03.44 to finish second overall in the 500m. finished second overall in the 500m. While in just his first race in a BYU uniform, Proffit clocked a personal-best 1:52.29 in the 800m. Haughton ran a 4:02.78 in the mile, shaving off nearly ten seconds from his 4:12.03 performance at the BYU December Invitational just over a month ago.
"You're never allowed to be sad about a new personal best, so I'm happy with the race," Lighthall said. "I went through the first 400m right on pace, then geared up and passed two guys in the finish to get a good time. The strength work we've been doing has really helped me with the close of my races and I'm super happy that the work I've been putting in is starting to show."
"The race went super well," said Haughton. "The pace was a little slow through the first 800m and I knew I had to move. I made a powerful surge with 800m left. Then it was just everything I had. I still want the sub-four-minute mark, but I am very pleased with the progress."
The second day of competition for the sprints/position groups at the Bob Pollock Invitational in Clemson, South Carolina will resume tomorrow morning at 7 a.m. MST. Live results can be found on Flash Results and a live stream on ACCNX.
*Converted from 2 miles