Cougars finish Big 12 runner-up behind Hedengren’s 5000m victory

TUCSON, Ariz. – Jane Hedengren led BYU to a runner-up finish as she won the 5000-meter at the Big 12 Championships at Drachman Stadium on Saturday night.

Full Results

The Cougars took second in the team competition with 108 points. Texas Tech was crowned the champion with 119.5 points, while Arizona, Iowa State and Baylor rounded out the top five.

Winning by almost 25 seconds, Jane Hedengren won the 5000m in 15:26.94. The freshman set a facility record in the process and added 10 points to BYU’s team score. Senior Jenna Hutchins took third in 15:53.41, while Taylor Lovell, Taylor Rohatinsky and Carmen Alder also reached the podium as they took sixth, seventh and eighth.

Five Cougars totaled 20 points in the 1500m final, with Hedengren leading the way with a third-place finish in 4:10.24. The performance earned her the seventh-fastest time in program history. Alder took fourth in 4:12.55, Carlee Hansen-Thompson fifth in 4:12.96. Hutchins and Rohatinsky took sixth and seventh in 4:13.41 and 4:13.66, respectively.

Kali McEuen set a school record in the 400m hurdles, crossing in 55.88 for fourth. She finished less than half a second behind first place. She is the first Cougar to ever break 56 seconds in the event.

Tessa Buswell posted a 2:06.23 in the 800m for her second-straight conference runner-up finish, including indoor season. The sophomore posted seven points.

Kaiah Fisher launched a 53.67m/176-1 in the discus, which was good for fourth place. The senior’s performance earned six points to add to the team total.

McEuen took sixth in the 100m hurdles final, almost matching her season best in 13.17. Her performance earned three points for BYU.

Paje Rasmussen earned one point for BYU in the 200m, clocking a 23.32 to take eighth.