Courtesy photo
BYU’s Carter Cutting competes in the mile race at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
BYU men’s and women’s track and field teams finished with multiple program top-10 marks, headlined by Carter Cutting’s sub-four minute mile, at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in Boston on Saturday night.
“It was a great effort from all of our boys,” said assistant men’s distance coach Ryan Waite. “The level of competition at this meet is world class and the guys put themselves in there with the best of them. We are very happy for Carter getting under four minutes for the first time in the mile. That’s a great achievement and important barrier for any runner to break. Huge personal bests for Creed and Lucas too. Joey is ‘Mr. Consistent’ in the 5000m, so we know that big breakthrough is coming soon. Overall, it was a good meet as we kick off the indoor season.”
Cutting ran the mile race in 3:59.45: BYU’s No. 9 all-time mark in the event, surpassing former Cougar Kenneth Rooks who held the spot in the program record books. A sophomore from Wilsonville, Oregon, Cutting, took seventh in his heat and tenth overall while setting a new indoor personal best. Freshman Hayden Gray also competed in the event finishing in 4:12.11.
“It feels great to finally break through that barrier,” said Cutting. “I’ve been chasing it for a long time, so I’m glad I could check it off the list. I’m excited for some big races ahead.”
Creed Thompson ran 13:25.03: BYU’s No. 2 all-time mark in the event. The junior from Lehi, Utah took first out of the Cougars on the track setting a new indoor personal best.
Joey Nokes finished second in heat two of the event with a 13:29.61, shy of his personal best of 13:29.30 which is the No. 5 all-time mark. The race also saw a No. 7 all-time performance from Lucas Bons who crossed the finish in 13:29.61. James Corrgian rounded out the pack in 13:43.03.
On the women’s side, Meghan Hunter and Tessa Buswell opened up the 2025 indoor track and field season with top-10 program marks in the 800-meters.
Hunter ran 800m in 2:02.03: BYU’s No. 3 all-time mark in the event. The senior from Provo, Utah won the race on her way to setting a new indoor personal best.
“I felt very confident coming into this race,” said Hunter. “Today was kind of a celebration of Fall training. The plan was just to smooth and relax and shut the mind off for as long as I could. I felt pretty strong throughout the race.”
Tessa Buswell finished in third with a personal-best of 2:04.01 in her first-ever collegiate competition. The freshman from San Diego, California earned BYU’s No. 9 all-time mark in the 800m.
“I was really nervous for the race, but Meghan and Krystie helped me a lot and prepared me for it,” said Buswell. “I’m really proud of my performance. I thought I raced well and executed the race plan which was to just ‘hop on the train’ and let people pull me through. I am super proud of all of my teammates today.”
Krystie Solomon-Jensen was the third BYU woman under the 2:05 barrier as she finished in fourth in a personal best of 2:04.95.
Riley Chamberlain placed eighth in the 3000m running just a tenth of a second off of her personal best. A First Team All-American in the event at last season’s NCAA Championships, Chamberlain clocked 8:51.31. Teammates Taylor Rohatinsky and Taylor Lovell placed 24th and 29th, running 9:08.98 and 9:12.68 in their debut races over the 3000m distance.
Sophomore Grace Hutchison set a personal best of 4:45.81 to place 15th and lead the Cougar women in the mile.
The sprints, hurdles, jumps and throws will open up their 2024 season at home for the BYU December Invitational Dec. 10-12 in the Smith Fieldhouse.