Completed Event: Track & Field versus NCAA Championships on June 12, 2025 ,
Final Score
Track & Field
vs NCAA Championships
Friday, February 29
Colorado Springs, Colo.
All Day
University of Utah
vs
MWC Championship
Utah Track in Seventh at MWC Chapmionship
2/29/2008 12:00 AM | Track & Field
Feb. 29, 2008
USAFA, Colo. - The University of Utah's women's track and field team is in seventh place after the second day of the Mountain West Conference indoor track and field championships here on the campus of the U.S. Air Force Academy.
"Today was a mixed bag for our team," said head coach Kyle Kepler. "Our program took some major steps forward in some areas. But, I also saw some areas today that we need to focus in on, and we must improve them for the outdoor season."
The Utes tallied 14 points today, and Colorado State finished the day in first place with 56 points. San Diego State is in second (44 points), followed by TCU (29), Wyoming (24), BYU (23) and New Mexico (20). Trailing the Utes are UNLV and Air Force, both tied for eighth with 12 points.
Utah didn't have a competitor in the first day of competition since it was dedicated to the multi-event athletes.
There were five finals today, and Utah netted scores in three of those events. Today's best finish for the Utes was the fourth-place effort by their distance medley relay team. The foursome of Janett Ern, Jessica Suddaby, Sarah McFee and Shayla Houlihan clocked the track in 12:48.49.
Also scoring for the Utes today was Josefin Berg in the weight throw, Lauren Endersen in the 5000m and Mandie Rowell in the pole vault.
"Josefin got it started for us today," Kepler remarked. "She did a great job in the weight throw today, tossing both a lifetime- and season-best in the event. Chastity Toilolo (11th, 52-5) and Sarah Grimm (12th, 52-3 ¼) didn't score in the weight throw, but they both had solid efforts and PR'd in the event."
Berg was the top finisher among the trio with a fifth-place toss of 57-3 in the weight throw. Endersen clocked a sixth-place finish in the 5000m in 18:14.03, and Rowell's vault of 12-5 ½ was good enough to take seventh in the competition.
"Both Lauren Endersen and Mandie Rowell competed very well in events that were very strong in our league," continued Kepler. "Endersen out-legged a couple of BYU runners in the last 400m to eek out a sixth-place finish in the 5K, while Rowell finishes her career with a PR by three inches in her last collegiate competition."
In preliminary competition today, Chelsea Shapard continued to shine for the Crimson and White on the track. She recorded the fastest preliminary time in the 400m, clocking it in 55.98. Also qualifying in the 400m was fellow Ute Ashley Patterson, turning in the sixth-best time of 57.53.
Also, Chelsea DiGrazia qualified for the finals in the mile this afternoon. In her preliminary, she turned in the fourth-best time (5:16.68).
"Both DiGrazia and Shapard looked good in their respective competitions today," noted Kepler. "They both ran very smooth and controlled races, and I look forward to another solid run from them tomorrow in their final events."
While there were no preliminary races today in some events, Utah will also have runners competing in the finals of the 800m, 3000m and the mile relay on Saturday.
"There are some big points on the board for us tomorrow, and we need to be ready and focused to compete for them," Kepler finished.
The nine-team field, including Utah, returns for the third and final day of competition at 12:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track & FieldCoach Kyle Kepler celebrates 20 years at the helm of Utah Cross Country/Track & Field
Monday, August 11
Utah Cross Country's McKaylie Caesar Feature - A Medical Miracle
Tuesday, April 29
Our Voices: Episode 4 - Celebrating Black History Month
Friday, February 25
Our Voices: Episode 3 - Celebrating Black History Month
Friday, February 18