Cougs wrap up competition at USATF Olympic Trials

Current and former BYU Cougars wrapped up competition at the USATF Olympic Trials Sunday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

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EUGENE, Oreg. - Current and former BYU Cougars wrapped up competition at the USATF Olympic Trials Sunday at Hayward Field. 

Full Results

Alum Abraham Alvarado was the lone competitior to represent the Cougars Sunday as the Winton, California native placed eighth in the men's 800-meter final running 1:44.90: the second-fastest time of his career and just .46 off of his all-time personal best achieved Friday. 

A 2018 BYU graduate, Alvarado owns the Cougar's No. 2 all-time mark in the indoor 800m at 1:47.46 and is ranked No. 4 outdoor with 1:46.62.

TEAM USA

Alum Courtney Wayment was the first to punch her ticket to Paris as she placed second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a new personal best and the No. 5 time in the world this year at 9:06.50. Wayment has shown on the national steeplechase scene over the past four seasons after placing just a spot shy of the 2021 Olympic team with a fourth-place finish at the trials in 2021. Wayment went on to finish second at the USATF Championships in 2022 and third in 2023. 

Sophomore James Corrigan was next to secure his Olympic ticket. Corrigan placed third in the 3,000m steeplechase at the trials in 8:26.78; however, he did not have the Olympic Qualifying Standard of 8:15.00. From Los Angeles, California, Corrigan travelled across the country to chase down the standard at Penn Relays six days later in Philadelphia. He went on to run 8:13.87, solidfy his ticket to Paris and break the Cougars' program record. 

Two-time USATF 3000m steeplechase champion Kenneth Rooks won the event at the trials in 8:21.92. Rooks has not achieved the qualifying time and will rely on world rankings to solidify his position on Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games. The rankings will be finalized July 7. 

“To have multiple Olympians come out of the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials is a statement of where our program is right now. Since coming here in the year 2000, we’ve put athletes Olympic teams. However, to have a windfall of athletes this year is amazing. It all started with our marathoners earlier this year and then Courtney Wayment ran an inspiring race of her own. Then Kenneth and James finished first and third; that was truly special. Then to have James come back and hit the Olympic Standard was just unreal. BYU track and field is doing great things right now.”

Ed EyestoneDirector of Track and Field

Up Next 

The track and field Olympic Games will held in Paris, France Aug. 1-11 at the Stade de France.