LAWRENCE, Kansas - Meghan Hunter won the 800-meters and Lexy Halladay-Lowry won the 5000m on the final day of the Big 12 outdoor championships at Rock Chalk Park.
Hunter shattered the 2-minute barrier for the first time in her career, becoming the first Cougar in BYU history to do so with a time of 1:58.99 to win the conference title. Her performance not only set a new BYU program record but also ranks her as the No. 3 all-time performer in NCAA outdoor track & field history. The Provo, Utah, native also claimed the Big 12 championship meet record with her historic run.
"This is a dream come true that’s been years in the making," said Hunter. "Celebrating with my teammates was at the finish line was so incredible. Now it’s time to keep working hard to see what’s next."
Freshman Tessa Buswell clocked 2:03.09 to take fifth, while Riley Chamberlain crossed in 2:05.88 for eighth, combining with Hunter to score 15 points for the Cougars in the event.
After a two-hour weather delay, Halladay-Lowry clocked 15:14.93 in the 5000m to win her second Big 12 title in the event (2025 indoor) and break the championship meet record. The Meridian, Idaho, native now owns three individual Big 12 titles, including the 3000m in 2024.
Jenna Hutchins placed fourth in 15:36.14, while Carlee Hansen finished fifth in 15:51.57, combining with Halladay-Lowry for 19 points for the Cougars in the event.
Carlee Hansen led the way for the Cougars in the women’s 1500m, finishing second with a personal-best time of 4:08.70 to secure the No. 2 mark in BYU history. The senior from Bountiful, Utah, was followed closely by junior Riley Chamberlain, who placed third with a personal-best 4:09.49, improving her No. 4 mark on the program’s all-time list. Carmen Alder and Jenna Hutchins added valuable points with times of 4:14.71 and 4:15.04, respectively, as the event contributed 21 points to the BYU total.
Sami Oblad clocked 51.87 for a second-place finish in the 400m, earning eight points for the Cougars. The senior’s performance marked her highest finish at a Big 12 meet and the third-fastest outdoor time of her career.
BYU’s 4x100m relay team of Cate Phipps Louis, Emily Ellis-Dalley, Paje Rasmussen and Lindsey Middleton combined for a time of 45.46, finishing ninth overall in the event. The 4x400m relay relay team of Ellis-Dalley, Rassmussen, Oblad and Phipps Louis placed 14th in 3:41.90.
In the discus, Gretchen Hoekstre finished 10th with a mark of 50.91m/167-0, while Jayda Lee placed 21st with a throw of 43.75m/143-6.
| BYU DAY THREE PODIUM | ||||
| Athlete | Event | Result | Placement | Points |
| Meghan Hunter | 800m | 1:58.99 | 1st | 10 points |
| Lexy Halladay-Lowry | 5000m | 15:14.93 | 1st | 10 points |
| Carlee Hansen | 1500m | 4:08.70 | 2nd | 8 points |
| Sami Oblad | 400m | 51.87 | 2nd | 8 points |
| Riley Chamberlain | 1500m | 4:09.49 | 3rd | 6 points |
| Jenna Hutchins | 5000m | 15:36.14 | 4th | 5 points |
| Carlee Hansen | 5000m | 15:51.57 | 5th | 4 points |
| Tessa Buswell | 800m | 2:03.09 | 5th | 4 points |
| Carmen Alder | 1500m | 4:14.71 | 5th | 4 points |
| Jenna Hutchins | 1500m | 4:15.04 | 6th | 3 points |
| Riley Chamberlain | 800m | 2:05.88 | 8th | 1 point |
The women capped the conference meet with a runner-up finish, totaling 112.5 points.
“We saw a phenomenal three days from our men’s and women’s programs,” Director of Track & Field Ed Eyestone said. “We had a goal coming into the championships to give Texas Tech a good run and improve on our performance from last year. Our men’s and women’s teams certainly did that. We had some great individual performances as well and couldn’t be more proud of the men and women who wore the royal blue today.”
| BIG 12 WOMEN TEAM SCORES | ||
| Place | Team | Points |
| 1st | Texas Tech | 127 |
| 2nd | BYU | 112.5 |
| 3rd | TCU | 86 |
| 4th | Baylor | 84.5 |
| 5th | Kansas | 55.83 |
Up Next
BYU track and field will prepare for the NCAA West Preliminary Round May 28-May 31 in College Station, Texas.