SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah track and field team stays home this weekend as they prepare to host the first day of competition of the Utah/Weber State Spring Classic on Friday, April 6, and continuing on Saturday, April 7, at Weber State. The action begins on the Utah campus at the McCarthey Family Track and Field Complex on Friday while day two will take place in Ogden at Stewart Stadium on the Weber State University campus.
"This will be probably the largest number of athletes we have ever had at this meet," Utah head coach
Kyle Kepler said. "We are certainly excited to see what we can get done, we are going to recognize our seniors, 11 of them, who have meant a ton to this program and have done some really special things."
On its home track, the Utes will have its most competitors in the 800. Junior
Caitlin Faust is ranked in the top-30 nationally and seventh all-time at Utah in the event. Other notable competitors in the 800 for the Utes are senior
Grace Englund, sophomore
Sarah Newton, sophomore
Nicole Griffiths, freshman
Whitney Hessler, freshman
Jackie Martin, senior
Hannah McInturff, senior
Megan Perkins-Killian, and junior
Sadie Wassum.
Senior
Alissa Atisme will highlight the 4x100 meter squad for the Utes on Friday. Also running with Atisme will be seniors
Raynee Helm Wheelock,
Madison Lanford, and
Jackie Martin. Atisme and Wheelock will also be competing in the 100-meter dash. Atisme currently holds the school record in this event.
Jackie Martin will also compete in the 400-meter dash.
Seniors
Jessica Sams and
Louise Mercer will compete in the 3,000-meter race with McInturff. Freshman
Ruby Jane Mathewson will compete in the 400-meter hurdle event alongside sophomore
Brooke Martin and Lanford.
Senior
Dakota Grossman will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Last time out in her first steeplechase event, Grossman's time of 11:14.50 moved her into ninth place all-time at Utah.
Freshman
Regan Crofts will be competing in the javelin.
After the 3,000-meter steeplechase, scheduled to begin at 6:20 p.m. (MT), there will be a short break in the action to recognize the Utah seniors.
Admission is free to all fans for the meet. There will also be a kid's race scheduled for 7:15 p.m. (MT).
Notable competitors will also include student-athletes from Peking University in China.
"We are real exited as always to host our home meet and our kids just can't wait for Friday," Kepler said. "I know they are excited to compete in front of their home fans, friends, and family."
Competition for day two is slated to begin at 10 a.m. (MT) in Ogden at Stewart Stadium.
The notable race for the Utes will be the 1,500 featuring sophomore
Poppy Tank, Grossman, Englund, Newton, Griffiths, McInturff, Perkins-Killian, and Wassum.
Junior
Eliza Hansen will compete in the women's high jump.
Brooke Martin will compete in the 200-meter race.
Click below to listen to Kepler in his weekly podcast give a recap of last weekends meets at the Stanford, San Francisco State, and Utah Valley Invites, along with a preview of this weekends home meet.