Utah Track and Field Wraps Up Competition at Long Beach State Invite

Saturday, April 21

Long Beach, CA

All Day

University of Utah

Long Beach State Invitational

Utah Track and Field Spring Classic 2018

Photo by: Steve C. Wilson

Utah Track and Field Wraps Up Competition at Long Beach State Invite

4/21/2018 11:25 PM | Track & Field

2018 Beach Invite Final

4x400 squad runs strong to highlight for the Utes.

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Led by a third-place finish by the 4x400 meter squad, the Utah track and field team wrapped up competition at the Long Beach Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

The 4x400 meter squad that included seniors Alissa Atisme, Grace Englund, freshman Jackie Martin, and junior Caitlin Faust finished the race with a time of 3:41.15.

"We had a really solid day," Utah head coach Kyle Kepler said. "That is our best 4x400 time in several years. They were trying to run a sub-3:40 because that is what we think it will take to get to NCAA's.

In the 800-meter race, sophomore Nicole Griffiths led the Utes finishing in 15th place with a personal-best time of 2:10.96 after winning her heat. Senior Hannah McInturff, who also won her heat, placed 41st with a time of 2:14.82 and senior Sadie Wassum placed 49th with a time of 2:15.94.

"That is a big lifetime best for Nicole," Kepler said. "both Nicole and Hannah did a great job today after running the 1,500 yesterday."

Atisme led the Utes in the 200-meter event with a 14th place finish in a time of 24.39. Jackie Martin, senior Raynee Helm Wheelock, and senior Madison Lanford also competed for the Utes. Jackie Martin finished in 52nd with a time of 25.68, senior Raynee Helm Wheelock placed 58th with a time of 25.90, and senior Madison Lanford finished 80th with a time of 26.65.
Sophomore Sarah Newton competed in the 400-meter dash where she won her heat and placed 40th with a time of 57.57. With this time, Newton recorded a new personal best.

In the 400-meter hurdles, freshman Rachel Whipple finished in 56th with a time of 1:04.26, freshman Ruby Jane Mathewson placed 62nd with a time of 1:05.21, and sophomore Brooke Martin earned 67th with a time of 1:06.19.

"Overall it was a very successful weekend with some school records and lifetime best and we probably got some people qualified for the first round of NCAA's," Kepler said.