Watson Captures First and New School Record at Weber State Winter Open

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Weber State Winter Open

Watson Captures First and New School Record at Weber State Winter Open

12/1/2018 8:00 PM | Track & Field

Weber State Winter Open Results

True freshman Taylor Watson records new school record in 55-meter dash.

OGDEN, Utah – The Utah women's track and field team opened up its 2018-19 indoor schedule at the Weber State Winter Open Friday and Saturday. Freshmen Taylor Watson, Maya Lebar, and senior Raynee Helm-Wheelock highlighted the meet for the Utes as they each recorded times in the 55-meter dash to move them into first, fourth, and fifth all-time at Utah, respectively.

In the 55-meter race, Watson, Lebar, and Helm-Wheelock all captured first in each of their preliminary races. In the finals, Watson captured the event title with a new school record time of 7.16. This knocks off the previous record of 7.18 held by Alissa Atisme. Helm-Wheelock came in behind Watson finishing in second with a personal-best time of 7.22. Lebar did not compete in the finals but finished first in preliminary heat 1 in a time of 7.24. Also competing for the Utes was sophomore Jackie Martin and freshmen Skyler Blair, Lauren O'Banion, and Katrina Broadhead. Martin placed second in heat 2 (7.45), Blair earned third in heat 1 (7.48), O'Banion captured fourth in heat 1, and Broadhead placed second in heat 3 (7.61). Senior transfer Kolbi Sims competed unattached and placed second in heat 1 with a time of 7.38. Sims also competed in the long jump where she reached a mark of 5.46m (17'11") taking home the event title.

Sophomore Rachel Whipple competed in the 400-meter event for Utah. Whipple captured second place and recorded a new personal-best time of 58.50.

Utah had its largest number of competitors in the mile race where six Utes placed in the top-10. Freshman Scarlet Dale led the pack finishing in third place with a time of 5:05.15. Redshirt freshman Cara Woolnough earned fifth with a time of 5:08.64 and sophomore Bella Williams finished seventh in a time of 5:21.37. Rounding out the top-10 finishers for Utah was senior Sadie Wassum, redshirt sophomore Trina Moreno, and senior Mesa Weidle. Wassum earned eighth with a time of 5:21.73, Moreno finished ninth in a time of 5:22.90, and Weidle captured 10th with a time of 5:23.02. Also competing for Utah was freshman Sophie Ryan (12th, 5:26.37), freshman Sara Leonard (13th, 5:27.36), sophomore Whitney Hessler (14th, 5:31.28), sophomore Astrid Lindgren (15th, 5:32.75), sophomore Natalie Platil (18th, 5:40.17), senior Hannah Allred (19th, 5:41.53), junior Anna Busatto (19th, 5:46.68), and freshman Brooke Manson (23rd, 5:55.78). Junior Sarah Feeny competed unattached and captured the event title with a time of 4:59.23.

Senior Eliza Hansen finished fourth in the high jump with a personal-best height of 1.68m (5'6").

"This is a great baseline moving forward but we have a long winter break of training here before we come back for second semester and get to do it all again," Kepler explained. "Overall I was extremely pleased with the opening meet and we look forward to bigger and better things moving forward."

Utah track and field will be back in action after the holidays on Jan. 19, to compete at the Jackson's Invitational in Boise, Idaho.

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