Women's DMR team breaks school record at UW Invite

SEATTLE – BYU track and field’s women’s distance medley relay (DMR) team set a new BYU indoor record and Washington facility record to earn a national-qualifying time after completing the relay in 10:53.95 at the UW Invite on Saturday. 

“Some of the highlights were being able to punch some tickets to the NCAA Championships,” BYU head coach Ed Eyestone said. “Really proud of the women’s DMR team. Not only did they do it once tonight, but they were en route to do it last night as well. For them to come back after an officiating error last night was great, it’s a new school record. Super pleased that they will be headed to the national meet. Coach Taylor has done a wonderful job with that team and every woman stepped up.”

After an official’s error on Friday, the women’s DMR invite race was moved to Saturday. All-American Anna Camp-Bennett, Alena Ellsworth, All-American Lauren Ellsworth-Barnes and All-American Whittni Orton clocked 10:53.95 to set a new school record and NCAA-leading mark. The previous record of 10:54.14 was run by All-Americans Erica Birk-Jarvis, Anna Camp-Bennett, Lauren Ellsworth and Brenna Porter as they placed second at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships. 

The women’s DMR team also broke the previous Dempsey Indoor Track Arena facility record (10:55.01) and earned the seventh-fastest time in NCAA history. 

Talem Franco also claimed a spot on the BYU all-time board after running a sub-four-minute mile (3:58) to move up to No. 3 all-time, behind Miles Batty and Doug Padilla, and earn a potential national-qualifying time. Franco finished fourth overall in the men’s mile. 

“It was a big day for Talem Franco, he joined an exclusive club of four-minute milers and I'm proud of the way he raced," Eyestone said. "He ran a very nice last 400 meter to become No. 3 all-time at BYU in the mile.”

Jake Heslington led the Cougars in the 3000m with a career-best time of 7:55.21 that propelled him to a fourth-place finish overall. 

Several other athletes ran personal bests in the 3000m including Brandon Garnica (8:06.68), Garrett Marsing (8:11.06) and Zac Jacklin (8:16.07). Matt Owens, McKay Johns and Zack Ericksen all competed in their debut 3000m with times of 8:08.28, 8:14.07 and 8:17.77, respectively. 

Sierra Freeland placed sixth overall in the women’s shot put with a mark of 14.60m/47-11.00. Dailyn Tufuga set a career record in the weight throw with a mark of 15.23m/49-11.75. Jessica Thompson also recorded a career high with a throw of 12.98m/42-04.75. 

The BYU women’s mid-distance athletes ran competitive races. Heather Hanson clocked a career-best 4:55.11 in the mile while Claire Seymour ran a personal-best time in the 800m at 2:08.46. 

In the women’s 3000m Sara Musselman ran a personal-best time of 9:39.73 to place 32nd overall, and first for the Cougars. McKenna Lee ran a time of 9:48.99 to come in 43rd overall. 

On Friday, the women’s team distance runners competed in the women’s 5000. Several Cougars earned personal records including Haley Johnston (16:42.34), Aubrey Frentheway (16:34.71) and Sophie Lasswell (16:22.26). 

BYU track and field will compete next at the Nike Boise Indoor in Nampa, Idaho. The meet will begin competition on Friday, Feb. 7 and conclude on Saturday, Feb. 8. 

Official UW Invite results can be found here.