NCAA track and field: Lovell wins steeplechase title, Hedengren 9th in 5K as BYU women wrap up season

PROVO — Steeplechase U. is alive and well at BYU.

Just look on the women's track and field side.

Taylor Lovell used a punishing pace in the final 400 meters to pull away in a personal-best time of 9 minutes, 21.03 seconds for her first national championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

The junior from Gilbert, Arizona, who finished ninth at the NCAA championships a year ago closed in 61 seconds to finish 5.5 seconds ahead of second-place Sophie Novak of Notre Dame.

"I was really just trying to listen to my coach, listen to our plan," Lovell told ESPN after the race. "I might've gone a little early. But I knew that I had to go then, and get over those hurdles so that I could feel smooth and in control.

"I did everything I wanted to do," she added. "I followed the race plan. It was really fun."

Another championship contender from BYU, Jane Hedengren tried to bounce back from her third-place finish two nights ago in the 10,000-meter final.

But the true freshman from Timpview High fell to ninth in 15:22.88 — more than 32 seconds off her collegiate record set earlier this season in April.

"I feel like I tend to be out there pushing from the front," Hedengren told ESPN before the race. "That's worked for me in the past, and it's still a race plan that I love: just putting your full effort out there and trying to gun to the finish."

On Saturday, Hedengren trailed early, settling in around fifth or sixth place of the lead pack with as little as six laps to go.

With five to go, she made her push to take over the ahead of the pack alongside usual rivals Pamela Kosgei of New Mexico and Doris Lemngole of Alabama.

"I just wanted to finish out the season, and give myself an opportunity on that starting lineup on the slight possibility that it would all work out," said Hedengren, who revealed after the race she was ill to the point of being bedridden as recently as last Friday. "I think there's something really special about toeing the line, even when you don't feel 100 percent — and enjoying the privilege it is to compete against some really fantastic competition."

Lemngole, the two-time steeplechase national champion and cross country star from Kenya, pulled in front with two laps to go, with Kosgei and New Mexico teammate Marion Jepngetich and the trio stretched the advantage late as Lemngole crossed first in 15:11.71. Jepngetich was second in 15:13.01, followed by Iowa State's Mercyline Kirwa — who blitzed her way to the 10,000-meter title with a punishing final kick — in third in 15:13.72.

Lemongole was disqualified after the race for taking more than two steps over the rail, and Jepngetich was awarded the win. Kirwa was elevated to first, and Florida freshman Judy Chepkoech (15:14.05) finished third.

"It is what it is, and I'm proud of myself for my career," the Alabama star said briefly with media in Eugene before being escorted out of the press area.

Carlee Hansen-Thompson and Carmen Alder each added a top-eight performance in the 1,500 meter, with Hansen capping off her senior season with a fifth-place finish in 4:13.66 and Alder finishing eighth in 4:15.26.

With Lovell, the trio helped the Cougars to 22 points and first place midway through the final day of the NCAA women's outdoor track and field championships in Eugene, Oregon.

But the Cougars' lack of depth in the sprints, hurdles and mid-distance events — a strategic decision last year in then wake of the House settlement, per the Deseret News — dropped them outside the top 10 as Georgia, Florida, Oregon and USC began to pile up points.

Georgia won the team title for the second year in a row, nine points ahead of Florida's 41 points. Arkansas was third with 38 points, followed by Oregon (36) and USC (32).

BYU teammate Raygan Dimond finished 12th in the steeplechase in 10:25.18.

BYU's Kaiah Fisher added a throw of 53.20 meters (174-6) to finish 20th in the discus.

Zoey Bonds wrapped up the heptathlon with a personal-best score of 5,775 points, good for 13th place and 407 points behind NCAA champion Sofia Cosculluela of Washington's collegiate-best 6,182. The senior from Las Vegas finished 10th in the long jump in 5.99 meters (19-8), 13th in the javelin with a throw of 37.77 meters (123-11), and 13th in the 800 meters in 2:20.14.

Lovell is the fifth women's steeplechase national champion from BYU, a school that has earned a reputation as "Steeple U." Among the list of highest standouts in the 3,000-meter distance event that includes several high barriers and an unconventional leap over a water pit is Courtney Wayment, the 2022 champion from Davis High

The Big 12 steeplechase champion is the second women's steeplechase national champion in five years for the Cougars, joining 2022 title winner Courtney Wayment who went on to compete in the Summer Olympics in 2024.

Lovell added her name to that historic list Saturday afternoon. But when the results were counted, she immediately looked for the other names that pushed her over the finish line at the NCAA championships: her family, her teammates, her coach Diljeet Taylor.

"These women are the reason I am where I'm at," she said. "They push me every single day; my coaches made me believe in myself, my coaches pushed me to believe in myself. This is a we; this is not a me."

After the race, Lovell ran to the grandstand to embrace Taylor, who told her: "I'm so proud of you; you did it."

"I said, nope we did it," Lovell recalled. "She is the reason that I am where I am. She's the one that believed in me, kept me moving forward, and believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself. I just said, we did it, because she is the one that pushed me."

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