BYU holds 14th annual Curtis Pugsley Awards banquet

BYU held its 14th annual Curtis Pugsley Awards banquet Tuesday night.

Author Taylor McGladrie and Ben Ward
BYU holds 14th annual Curtis Pugsley Awards banquetBYU holds 14th annual Curtis Pugsley Awards banquet

PROVO, Utah - BYU track and field held its 14th annual Curtis Pugsley Awards banquet Tuesday night.

Awards were presented to the program's top freshman performers, overall track and field athletes, most inspirtational athletes and the Curtis Pugsley Award winners of the 2025-26 season.

The banquet is named after former BYU decathlete Curtis Pugsley who passed away from cancer in 2013. The Curtis Pugsley award is the highest honor of the night given to the top performing male and female from the program. The award serves to remember and continue the legacy of Pugsley as an All-American athlete, role model and disciple of Jesus Christ. 

Freshman Awards

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Tia Brown - Freshman Field Woman of the Year

  • No. 7 all-time at BYU in the indoor 60m hurdles as she clocked a 8.38 at the 2026 Big 12 Championships
  • No. 8 all-time at BYU in the indoor pentathlon as she posted 3,997 points at the 2026 Big 12 Championships
  • Finished seventh in the pentathlon at the 2026 Big 12 indoor championships with her 3,997 points
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Mark Bryant - Freshman Field Man of the Year

  • Placed second at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in the discus with a personal record of 58.08m/190-7
  • Placed fourth at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in the shot put recording a personal-best 17.71m/58-1.25
  • Was BYU's sole participant in the discus at the 2026 NCAA West Regionals
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Jane Hedengren - Freshman Track Woman of the Year

  • 2026 NCAA indoor 3000m champion
  • 2026 NCAA indoor 5000m champion
  • Three-time First Team All-American, one-time Second Team All-American
  • 2026 Big 12 indoor 3000m champion
  • 2026 Big 12 outdoor 5000m champion
  • Holds three NCAA records and four BYU records
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Tayvon Kitchen - Freshman Track Man of the Year

  • BYU record holder in the indoor 3,000m (7:26.23) (Ninth fastest time in collegiate history)
  • BYU record holder in the outdoor 5000m (13:16.27)
  • First Team All-American in the indoor 5000m (13:47.29)
  • Second Team All-American in the indoor 3000m (7:57.64)
  • Second Team All-American in the outdoor 5000m (13:57.42)
  • 2026 Big 12 Outdoor Outstanding Freshman of the Year

Top Performers

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Zoey Bonds - Field Woman of the Year

  • Two-time Second Team All-American
  • Runner-up at the 2026 Big 12 Indoor Championships in the pentathlon
  • No. 3 all-time at BYU in the indoor 60m hurdles with a time of 8.20
  • No. 4 all-time at BYU in the pentathlon with 4,239 points
  • No. 4 all-time at BYU in the outdoor 100m hurdles with a time of 13.17
  • No. 4 all-time at BYU in the heptathlon with 5,775 points
  • No. 6 all-time at BYU in the indoor 55m hurdles with a time of 7.85
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Ben Barton - Field Man of the Year

  • National Champion in the decathlon, scoring an 8,169 to move up to No. 2 all time on the BYU record book
  • Five time All-American
  • USTFCCCA Mountain Region Field Athlete of the Year
  • Holds the BYU Record in the Heptathlon (6,025)
  • Third all-time in the 60m hurdles (7.82)
  • Fourth all-time in the indoor long jump (7.60m/24-11.25)
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Taylor Lovell - Track Woman of the Year

  • 2026 NCAA National Champion in the 3000m steeplechase earning First Team All-American
  • 2026 Big 12 3000m steeplechase champion 
  • 2026 USTFCCCA Outdoor Track Co-National Scholar Athlete of the Year
  • No. 3 all-time at BYU in the 3000m steeplechase running 9:21.03
  • No. 4 all-time at BYU in the outdoor 5000m running 15:15.46
  • No. 8 all-time in the NCAA outdoor mile running 4:31.53
Carter on the podium

Carter Cutting - Track Man of the Year

  • National Champion in the indoor mile (3:58.94)
  • BYU record holder in the indoor mile (3:52.84)
  • Big 12 Champion in the 1500m (3:58.63)
  • BYU record holder in the 1500m (3:34.34)
  • Three time First Team All-American
  • Big 12 Scholar Athlete of the Year
  • 2026 USTFCCCA Indoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year
  • 2026 CSC First Team Academic All-American honors

Most Inspirational Athletes

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Krystie Solomon-Jensen - Most Inspirational Female Athlete

A teammate of Krystie said this: "Krystie is the most hardworking person I know. She inspires me everyday. She makes practice fun and always comes with a good attitude. She looks out for everyone and is always there when I need her. Krystie is a fighter and she never gives up. She is not only a great example to her sweet little Darcy, but to all of her teammates as well. I am so grateful to have someone like Krys in my life!”

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Paje Rasmussen - Most Inspirational Female Athlete

A teammate of Paje said this: "Paje is fierce. But even more so, she is a great teammate. I have been blessed to feel the impact of her and her testimony throughout this year and I will look up to her example forever. Paje is one of the most determined people I’ve ever met, and it’s been so fun to watch all of her hard work pay off. She is nothing but special."

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Ben Barton - Most Inspirational Male Athlete

Ben's teammates in the multis said this: "What always stood out to me about Ben, is that he was somehow all-in for track and field, school, and his relationships without compromising. He’s not a man of many words but he does the best thing a leader can do and leads by example. I have never known anyone else who works as hard as he does, while also living a balanced life. He genuinely makes me want to be a better person in many aspects of my life. He’s not only one of the greatest athletes I’ve ever met, but also one of the best friends I’ve had."

Curtis Pugsley Award Winners

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Jane Hedengren

  • 2026 NCAA indoor 3000m champion
  • 2026 NCAA indoor 5000m champion
  • Three-time First Team All-American, one-time Second Team All-American
  • 2026 Big 12 indoor 3000m champion
  • 2026 Big 12 outdoor 5000m champion
  • 2026 Big 12 runner-up in the indoor mile
  • 2026 Big 12 second runner-up in the outdoor 1500m
  • Holds the No. 1 NCAA and No. 1 BYU indoor 5000m all-time mark of 14:44.79
  • Holds the No. 1 NCAA and No. 1 BYU 10,000m all-time mark of 30:46.80
  • Holds the No. 1 NCAA and No. 1 BYU outdoor 5000m all-time mark of 14:50.50
  • Holds the No. 2 NCAA indoor and No. 1 BYU 3000m all-time mark of 8:34.98
  • Holds the No. 3 NCAA and No. 2 BYU indoor mile all-time mark of 4:22.22
  • Holds the No. 6 NCAA outdoor mile all-time mark of 4:31.10
  • Holds the No. 7 BYU outdoor 1500m all-time mark of 4:10.24
  • 2026 USTFCCCA Indoor Track National Scholar Athlete of the Year
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Ben Barton

  • 2026 decathlon National Champion
  • Five time First Team All-American
  • Two time CSC Second Team Academic All-American (2025, 2026)
  • No. 2 all-time BYU record holder in decathlon (8,169)
  • 2026 USTFCCCA Mountain Region Field Athlete of the year
  • 4x USTFCCCA All-Academic recipient (2019, 2023, 2025, 2026)
  • All-Big 12 Spring Academic Team
  • Participated as part of the 4x400-meter relay group placing 10th at the NCAA West Preliminary Round earning the relay squad a spot at the national championship