Completed Event: Track & Field versus NCAA Championships on June 12, 2025 ,
Final Score
Track & Field
vs NCAA Championships
Friday, March 31
Stanford, CA
All Day
University of Utah
vs
Stanford Invitational
Photo Credit: Tariq Speights
Venters Notches Sixth-Fastest 10k in NCAA History to Cap First Day of Stanford Invitational
4/1/2023 12:10 AM | Track & Field
Utah’s Emily Venters ran the sixth-fastest 10k in NCAA history Friday night with a 31:48.35 at the Stanford Invitational.
STANFORD, Calif. – On a day that was already filled with excitement and victories for the Utah track & field team, senior Emily Venters put on the finishing touches Friday night when she posted the sixth-fastest 10k in NCAA history at the Stanford Invitational.
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"What an awesome day across the board," head coach Kyle Kepler said. "We had so many high-level performances in a variety of events. Josefine is returning to form. The women in the 1500 all ran tough. Simone ran a lifetime best as her season opener. Harley and Rachel competed really well in the hurdle events. Bella won her heat in dominating fashion and her and Morgan both PR'd."
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The Lawrence, Kans., native stayed tight with the front pack in the first 3000m of the race before slowly making her move to take the lead. What thought to be short-live, Venters' lead gradually grew as the race went on until she crossed the finished line with a time of 31:48.35 – nearly 15 seconds ahead of the next finisher.
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"I honestly am in shock of myself a little on that one," said Venters on running the sixth-fastest team in the NCAA. "I decided last night to switch and race the 10k instead of 5k and super glad I did. I felt really relaxed and smooth when I took over. Then with eight laps to go I told myself I was taking my gloves off and going for it. I heard the announcer say 32:05 pace and I was like, 'let's go for sub 32,' so I just put my head down and tried not to look back. I'm looking forward to what else is to come in this final season and for our team! This team is taking things to the next level and I'm so happy to be a part of it!"
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Venters' time not only broke Utah's record by 62 seconds, it also broke the Pac-12 record by 18 seconds – which was set by Jordan Hasay of Oregon back in 2013 (32:06.64). Poppy Tank set the previous Utah record back in 2021 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships (32:50.57). Needless to say, her mark currently stands as the best time nationally and takes the top spot in the NCAA from NC State's Alexandra Hays (32:21.13).
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"I don't really know what else to say about Em's race," Kepler said after the race. "No. 6 all-time in the NCAA. School record. Pac-12 record. She was focused, calm and confident. She let the race come to her and stayed within herself. She didn't decide to run this race until Wednesday. Most definitely a great night to be a Ute!!"
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Harley Daniel got things going for the Utes on Friday in the 100m hurdles, posting a time of 14.30. Later on, Lauren Peterson ran a 4:30.91 in her section of the 1500m race.
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Rachel Whipple won her section of the 400m hurdles with a PR run of 1:01.49 while also finishing fifth-overall. Meanwhile, Ally Gomm battled down the final 100m to take third in her section with a mark of 1:03.33 – barely missing out on a new PR.
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Josefine Eriksen turned on the heat in the final 100 meters of the 400m dash to pass a pair of Stanford runners to claim the event title with a mark of 53.41. Her time ranks in the top-10 of the West Region and top-25 in the NCAA heading into this weekend.
Daniel took third in her heat with a run of 56.03 in her first outdoor 400m race. Erin Palmer's collegiate debut on the track saw her post a 59.01 in her section while Kelise Davis finished at 59.90.
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In the later distance races, Simone Plourde made her outdoor season debut with a PR run of 4:14.24 in the 1500m run – which was good for second in her section.
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"It was pretty exciting," Plourde said. "I hadn't run the 1500m or even mile in a while so I didn't really know how I was going to feel. Stayed in the pack and then with like 400m to go I just felt like I still had it in me and I felt so great. I was like oh my gosh, it's already bell lap it just went by so fast. Definitely exciting so hopefully we can get the time down little."
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Bella Williams showed up and showed out in her first outdoor race of the season by winning her section of the 5000m race with a run of 16:00.24 – which smashed her previous PR by 18 seconds and moved her into sixth all-time at Utah. Morgan Jensen also smashed her previous PR by 14 seconds after crossing the finish line at 16:26.94 in the same section as Williams.
"Honestly, very encouraging," Williams said postrace about her teammates cheering her on at every corner of the track. "I've had lots of injuries and haven't been able to run much so I'm very happy. The support of my teammates was insane. I could hear them at every corner so that made such a difference."
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Shana Van Elderen recorded her best mark on her second attempt in the invite section of the long jump with a leap of 5.56m (18-3).
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About an hour north at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic, freshman Erin Vringer led a trio of Utes in the 1500m race with a time of 4:30.67 – which was good for seventh-overall. Karli Branch posted a new PR after taking fourth in her section after crossing the finishing line at 4:34.36 while Maddie Reed checked in at 4:57.15.
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UP NEXT
Day two of the Stanford Invitational and Mike Fanelli Track Classic resumes on Saturday, April 1, on the track at approximately 2:22 p.m. (MT) on Cobb Track and Angell Field with the women's 4x100m relay.
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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.
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"What an awesome day across the board," head coach Kyle Kepler said. "We had so many high-level performances in a variety of events. Josefine is returning to form. The women in the 1500 all ran tough. Simone ran a lifetime best as her season opener. Harley and Rachel competed really well in the hurdle events. Bella won her heat in dominating fashion and her and Morgan both PR'd."
Â
The Lawrence, Kans., native stayed tight with the front pack in the first 3000m of the race before slowly making her move to take the lead. What thought to be short-live, Venters' lead gradually grew as the race went on until she crossed the finished line with a time of 31:48.35 – nearly 15 seconds ahead of the next finisher.
Â
"I honestly am in shock of myself a little on that one," said Venters on running the sixth-fastest team in the NCAA. "I decided last night to switch and race the 10k instead of 5k and super glad I did. I felt really relaxed and smooth when I took over. Then with eight laps to go I told myself I was taking my gloves off and going for it. I heard the announcer say 32:05 pace and I was like, 'let's go for sub 32,' so I just put my head down and tried not to look back. I'm looking forward to what else is to come in this final season and for our team! This team is taking things to the next level and I'm so happy to be a part of it!"
Â
Venters' time not only broke Utah's record by 62 seconds, it also broke the Pac-12 record by 18 seconds – which was set by Jordan Hasay of Oregon back in 2013 (32:06.64). Poppy Tank set the previous Utah record back in 2021 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships (32:50.57). Needless to say, her mark currently stands as the best time nationally and takes the top spot in the NCAA from NC State's Alexandra Hays (32:21.13).
Â
"I don't really know what else to say about Em's race," Kepler said after the race. "No. 6 all-time in the NCAA. School record. Pac-12 record. She was focused, calm and confident. She let the race come to her and stayed within herself. She didn't decide to run this race until Wednesday. Most definitely a great night to be a Ute!!"
Â
Harley Daniel got things going for the Utes on Friday in the 100m hurdles, posting a time of 14.30. Later on, Lauren Peterson ran a 4:30.91 in her section of the 1500m race.
Â
Rachel Whipple won her section of the 400m hurdles with a PR run of 1:01.49 while also finishing fifth-overall. Meanwhile, Ally Gomm battled down the final 100m to take third in her section with a mark of 1:03.33 – barely missing out on a new PR.
Â
Josefine Eriksen turned on the heat in the final 100 meters of the 400m dash to pass a pair of Stanford runners to claim the event title with a mark of 53.41. Her time ranks in the top-10 of the West Region and top-25 in the NCAA heading into this weekend.
ÂEriksen turns it on in the final 100m to take ?? in the 400m dash with a time of 5?3?.4?1??????????
— Utah T&F/XC (@Utah_trackfield) March 31, 2023
Top-10 in West Region
Top-25 in NCAAs°#GoUtes | #UtahTFXC pic.twitter.com/Ms9YHmK84v
Daniel took third in her heat with a run of 56.03 in her first outdoor 400m race. Erin Palmer's collegiate debut on the track saw her post a 59.01 in her section while Kelise Davis finished at 59.90.
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In the later distance races, Simone Plourde made her outdoor season debut with a PR run of 4:14.24 in the 1500m run – which was good for second in her section.
Â
"It was pretty exciting," Plourde said. "I hadn't run the 1500m or even mile in a while so I didn't really know how I was going to feel. Stayed in the pack and then with like 400m to go I just felt like I still had it in me and I felt so great. I was like oh my gosh, it's already bell lap it just went by so fast. Definitely exciting so hopefully we can get the time down little."
Â
Bella Williams showed up and showed out in her first outdoor race of the season by winning her section of the 5000m race with a run of 16:00.24 – which smashed her previous PR by 18 seconds and moved her into sixth all-time at Utah. Morgan Jensen also smashed her previous PR by 14 seconds after crossing the finish line at 16:26.94 in the same section as Williams.
ÂBella Williams with a brilliant run in her first outdoor race of the season to take home the?? in her section of the 5000m race and smashed her PR with a time of 1?6?:0?0?.2?4? to move into 6th all-time at Utah?? ????#GoUtes | #UtahTFXC pic.twitter.com/X2gWF4nzyH
— Utah T&F/XC (@Utah_trackfield) April 1, 2023
"Honestly, very encouraging," Williams said postrace about her teammates cheering her on at every corner of the track. "I've had lots of injuries and haven't been able to run much so I'm very happy. The support of my teammates was insane. I could hear them at every corner so that made such a difference."
Â
Shana Van Elderen recorded her best mark on her second attempt in the invite section of the long jump with a leap of 5.56m (18-3).
Â
About an hour north at the Mike Fanelli Track Classic, freshman Erin Vringer led a trio of Utes in the 1500m race with a time of 4:30.67 – which was good for seventh-overall. Karli Branch posted a new PR after taking fourth in her section after crossing the finishing line at 4:34.36 while Maddie Reed checked in at 4:57.15.
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UP NEXT
Day two of the Stanford Invitational and Mike Fanelli Track Classic resumes on Saturday, April 1, on the track at approximately 2:22 p.m. (MT) on Cobb Track and Angell Field with the women's 4x100m relay.
Â
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.
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Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
400M/800M
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
400M/800M
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Distance
/ Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Distance
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