Lovell wins 3000m steeplechase title, Cougars lead after day two of Big 12 Championships

TUCSON, Ariz. – Taylor Lovell clocked a 9:40.98 to win the 3000-meter steeplechase, pushing BYU into the lead of the team competition on day two of the Big 12 Championships at Drachman Stadium.

Full Results

The Cougars lead the team competition with 46 points. Arizona is second with 37 points, while Baylor, Oklahoma State and Iowa State round out the top five.

Lovell set Big 12 Championship and facility records in the event with her 9:40.98, finishing more than 13 seconds ahead of the rest of the competition. It marks Lovell’s first conference title and BYU’s first conference win in the event. After finishing runner-up the previous two seasons, the junior secured the victory. Her performance earned the Cougars 10 points.

Associate director of track & field Diljeet Taylor’s women totaled 21 points in the 3000m steeplechase. Raygan Peterson was the next to cross the line, taking third in 9:59.02, nearly 10 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Addie Meldrum and Emerald Kehr placed fifth and eighth, respectively, with Meldrum recording a personal best.

Zoey Bonds took fourth in the heptathlon with 5,735 points, moving to No. 4 in program history. Bonds’ performance was highlighted by a personal-best in the javelin, throwing 36.73m/120-6 for seventh in the event. The Las Vegas native scored five points for BYU.

Lia Pili placed eighth in the shot put, earning one point for BYU. She threw 15.02m/49-3.5. Cailee Faulkner added two points in the pole vault by clearing 4.17m/13-8.25.

Kali McEuen advanced to Saturday’s 100m hurdles final, clocking 13.26 to finish second in her heat and fifth overall. Tessa Buswell and Krystie Solomon-Jensen each won their 800m heats to qualify for the final. Buswell ran 2:02.15 while Solomon-Jensen clocked 2:04.37. The sophomore recorded the third-fastest time of the prelims.