STANFORD, Calif. – Jason Witt ran the top 10,000-meter time in the nation this year, and the second-best time in school history as BYU participated in the Payton Jordan Invitational over the weekend.

Complete results

With his time of 27:54.25, Witt set the top collegiate mark this year by over 30 seconds. He sits only behind his coach, Ed Eyestone, on the all-time school record board (Eyestone ran a 27:41.05 in 1985). Eyestone pointed out that with Witt's performance, BYU now has three of the top seven all-time collegiate 10,000-meter times.

Jason Witt's 27:54 10K was #2 ever at BYU, #6 ever by an American collegiate, & #1 in the NCAA, and was also the 2016 Olympic Standard

— Ed Eyestone (@EdEyestone) May 3, 2015

Shaquille Walker added to his impressive résumé Saturday, placing fourth in the 800 meters among the nation’s top collegiate and professional runners. Walker’s time of 1:45.98, the second-best of his career, placed him behind just one college runner—Penn State’s Brannon Kidder (1:45.58)—and two professional runners—Boris Berian (1:45.30) and Mark Wieczorek (1:45.89). Walker has now broken the 1:46.00 threshold twice in his sophomore year, and is the only BYU runner to do so.

BYU showed well in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, with James Tracy (8:46.35), Aaron Fletcher (8:48.57) and Steve Flint (8:49.65) finishing fourth, fifth and sixth their section. Their marks are the best three performances in the steeplechase by Cougar runners this season.

At the Idaho-Utah Border Clash, Alyssa Montverde-Dalton won the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.30. Her time is the 22nd-best in the nation this year and the fourth-best in school history.

Diamond Thomas took second place in the 100 and 200 meters. In the 200 meters, she moved into 10th-best in school history with a time of 23.92.

Complete results

BYU competes in two meets next week: the Weber State Twilight Meet in Ogden, Utah on Wednesday and the Oxy Invitational in Los Angeles over the weekend.

PROVO, Utah – BYU track and field is aiming for more regional qualifiers heading in to the final half of the outdoor season with meets at Stanford University and Boise State University this weekend.

“We will be split between two meets but we are very excited for this weekend,” BYU head coach Ed Eyestone said. “We believe Jason (Witt) and Shaq (Walker) are primed to set top times nationally.”

The Payton Jordan Invitational hosted by Stanford University is one of the most prestigious meets of the year with United States Olympians and many top collegiate athletes competing. The Border Clash meet is hosted by Boise State University and will include Boise State, BYU, Utah State, Weber State, Utah Valley, Idaho, Idaho State and a few other Idaho colleges. 

Border Clash begins Friday afternoon while the Payton Jordan Invitational starts Saturday afternoon. Live stats for Border Clash can be found here. Live stats for Payton Jordan can be found here.

Athletes to watch

Jason Witt

Witt will make his season debut in the 10,000 meters. Last season, he placed 12th in the nation at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. So far this season, Witt owns the 4th fastest time in the nation in the 5,000 meters.

Shaquille Walker

Walker will face some of the nation's best collegiate and pro athletes in the 800 meters. Walker currently holds the nation’s fastest time in the 800 meters among collegiate and professional runners.

Shea Martinez

Like Walker, Martinez will face a challenging field in the 800 meters. Martinez currently holds the eighth fastest time in the nation and 10th all-time at BYU.

Anginae Monteverde

Monteverde vaulted a career best last week at the Robison Invitational. Her vault of 13-9.75 (4.21m) is ranked 18th in the nation and third all-time among BYU vaulters.