University of Utah
Pac-12 Outdoor Championships
4x400m Relay Team Leads the Way for Utah on Championship Sunday at Hayward Field
5/15/2022 6:46 PM | Track & Field
The Utah track & field team tied its second-highest point total at the Pac-12 Championships on Sunday with 21 points.
The 4x100m relay team of Kelise Davis, Bailey Kealamakia, Maya LeBar and Lauren O'Banion ran the third-fastest time this season for the Utes at 47:06 to start the day. Simone Plourde gave the Women of Utah its first points of the weekend after running a 4:17.46 in the 1500m for sixth-place overall.
Oh, how was the 1500, you might ask?? Simone Plourde went OFF for a 6th PLACE @pac12 finish with a time of 4:17.46!!
— Utah T&F/XC (@Utah_trackfield) May 15, 2022
The big moves just keep stacking up ???? ATA WAY, SIMONE!! #goutes #utahtfxc #pac12championship pic.twitter.com/Qb5ziwcxhN
Josefine Eriksen also added three points of her own when she ran a PR time of 52.72 in the 400m dash to improve her time in the record book.
Skyler Blair then gave the Utes five points with her fourth-place finish in the 400m hurdles with another personal record mark of 58.54 – which was the fastest time by any Ute this season and pushed her into third all-time in the Utah record books.
Remember when @skylerblair00 got 4th at the @pac12 championship with a BIG OLE PR of 58.54?? I do. Almost like it was today.
— Utah T&F/XC (@Utah_trackfield) May 15, 2022
That's what we call BIGTIMES UTES FANS!! #goutes #utahtfxc #pac12 pic.twitter.com/rC5L3CjLH9
Cara Woolnough, who had the ninth-fastest time in the 5000m in the West Region coming into this weekend, led the race on Sunday for a few laps before finishing fourth-overall (15.55.47) and gave Utah another five points.
Meanwhile, Bella Williams ran a new PR time of 16:18.40 to best her previous time by nearly 10 seconds for ninth while Keelah Barger crossed the finish line at 16:43.25.
Utah's 4x400m relay team of O'Banion, Jasie York, Oneillia Fuller and Eriksen came from behind to win their heat thanks to Fuller and Eriksen to post a season-best mark of 3:40.19 to close out the weekend.
That relay team tacked on five more points for Utah, giving it 21 points on the weekend – which ties the 2012 squad for the second-most points at the conference championships meet in its first year in the Pac-12. It was just the third time Utah has scored 20-plus points at the conference championships. The highest point total came in 2014 when it tallied 23 points.
Cherry on top? The 4x400m bringing us home with a 4th place finish in the @pac12 championships!! Oh, and the best time of the season, no less, 3:40.19!! What a weekend! #goutes #utahtfxc #pac12championship pic.twitter.com/sUKVCylvS3
— Utah T&F/XC (@Utah_trackfield) May 16, 2022
The Utes now return home and will await the final declaration list at the NCAA West Regionals (May 26 & 28) to see who will officially compete in Fayetteville, Ark., at John McDonald Field.
For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
