Jane Hedengren Guides BYU to Big 12 Women’s Cross Country Victory
The BYU women’s cross country team has achieved another remarkable victory. On Friday, they secured their third consecutive Big 12 championship in Lawrence, Kansas. Freshman Jane Hedengren played a pivotal role in this success with an extraordinary performance.
Jane Hedengren’s Record-setting Performance
Hedengren led the race, finishing the 6,000-meter course with an impressive time of 18:29.6. This remarkable achievement not only placed her first but also broke the Big 12 record for the 6K distance. She finished nearly 45 seconds ahead of the second-place competitor.
Top Performers for BYU
Hedengren was not alone in her success. Several other BYU runners also excelled, finishing in the top 15:
- No. 3 Riley Chamberlain – 19:15.2
- No. 10 Nelah Roberts – 19:49.7
- No. 11 Taylor Lovell – 19:51.4
- No. 13 Zariel Macchia – 19:53.7
As a team, BYU outperformed Iowa State by 34 points, securing a dominant victory. Meanwhile, Utah finished sixth in the conference standings.
Men’s Team Performance
The BYU men’s cross country team also competed in their championship, finishing in fourth place. Notable performances included:
- No. 15 Tayvon Kitchen – 23:17.6
- No. 17 James Corrigan – 23:21.8
- No. 19 Noah Jenkins – 23:22.9
BYU’s Legacy in Women’s Cross Country
This victory marks the 26th women’s cross country title in BYU’s history. Coach Diljeet Taylor has been instrumental in this success, leading the team to eight of these titles. Remarkably, the Cougars are currently on a streak of seven consecutive championships across both the West Coast Conference and the Big 12.
BYU’s strong performance underscores its athletic prowess and commitment to excellence in cross country. The Cougars continue to set new benchmarks, exemplified by Jane Hedengren’s record-breaking achievements.
