PROVO, Utah – BYU men’s track and field sends eight Cougars to compete in four events at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 10-13.
All American Ben Barton returns to the national meet to compete in the decathlon for the third time in his career. The decorated senior took eighth in 2023, sixth in 2025 and currently sits ranked No. 4 nationally in the event with his 7998 point performance at the Bryan Clay Multis in early April. The Bloomsfield Hills, Michigan product opens competition for the Cougars Wednesday and will conclude the decathlon Thursday.
Reigning national champion in the indoor mile Carter Cutting will then compete for the Cougars Wednesday in the semifinal 1500-meter race. The junior, who clocked a No. 11 nationally ranked time of 3:35.88 after altitude conversion in late April, qualified for the NCAA West Regional meet where he took third overall in a time of 3:37.64 to guarantee himself a chance at a second national title in 2026. The time also sits at No. 3 on the all-time BYU record board.
The BYU 4x400-meter relay team featuring Josh Taylor, Jayden Jessee, Logan Hubler and Jonah Heimuli with Garrett Copelin as an alternate will close the first day of competition. The group qualified for the national meet after taking tenth at the West Regionals in a time of 3:03.79.
Tayvon Kitchen and Isaac Hedengren will compete in the 5000-meter on Friday evening. Kitchen, who holds the BYU school record in the event after clocking a 13:16.27 at the Bryan Clay Invitational, qualified for the national final after taking eighth at the West Regional meet. Hedengren, older brother of women’s track and field NCAA record holder Jane Hedengren, will race alongside Kitchen in the 5000m after taking 11th in the semifinals. Hedengren is also the No. 8 all-time BYU record holder in the event.
NCAA Championships Wednesday Schedule
|
Athlete |
Event | Time (MST) |
| Ben Barton | 100m Decathlon | 2:00 p.m. |
| Ben Barton | Long Jump Decathlon | 2:40 p.m. |
| Ben Barton | Shot Put Decathlon | 3:55 p.m. |
| Ben Barton | High Jump Decathlon | 5:10 p.m. |
| Carter Cutting | 1500m Semifinal | 6:21 p.m. |
| Ben Barton | 400m Decathlon | 8:43 p.m. |
| Josh Taylor, Jonah Heimuli, Jayden Jessee, Logan Hubler | 4x400m Relay Semifinal | 9:36 p.m. |
NCAA Championships Thursday Schedule
|
Athlete |
Event | Time (MST) |
| Ben Barton | 110m Hurdles Decathlon | 11:45 a.m. |
| Ben Barton | Discus Decathlon | 12:35 p.m. |
| Ben Barton | Pole Vault Decathlon | 1:45 p.m. |
| Ben Barton | Javelin Decathlon | 3:15 p.m. |
| Ben Barton | 1500m Decathlon | 8:43 p.m. |
NCAA Championships Friday Schedule
|
Athlete |
Event | Time (MST) |
| Carter Cutting* | 1500m Final | 6:12 p.m. |
| Tayvon Kitchen | 5000m Final | 7:55 p.m. |
| Isaac Hedengren | 5000m Final | 7:55 p.m. |
| Josh Taylor, Jonah Heimuli, Jayden Jessee, Logan Hubler* | 4x400m Relay Final | 8:21 p.m. |
*if athlete qualifies for final