The NCAA track and field championships kicked off Wednesday in Eugene, Oregon, and BYU runner Carter Cutting showed up big for the Cougars.
Cutting placed second in the 1500 meters qualifier earning him both a school record and the No. 2 seed in the finals that will take place on Friday.
In a post-race interview, Cutting explained his thoughts on coming in second and his motivation for the final race on Friday.
“I feel kind of like the underdog,” Cutting said.
However, for Cutting, this next race is personal.
“Me and my coach are watching the MJ series right now, The Last Dance and so our motto is like, ‘and I took that personally,’” Cutting told reporters. “So if they want to write me off and think I won’t win, that will just fuel me even more."
Cutting set an all-time school record in the 1500 meters, clocking a 3:35.95. The previous record was held by Miles Batty, who ran a 3:36.25 back in 2011.
Also in Eugene, BYU Cougar Ben Barton competed in the first day of the Men’s Decathlon finals. Across the day’s events, Barton took first place in the 100 meters, high jump, and 400 meters. He also took third place in the long jump and 13th in the shot put.
Despite his setback in the shot put, Barton finished out the day in first place.
The final events of the decathlon begin Thursday morning. Barton is currently in first place.
The men’s 4x400-meters relay featured BYU Cougars Josh Taylor, Jonah Heimuli, Jayden Jessee and Logan Hubler, who placed 20th overall, and last in their heat, and did not qualify to advance to the final round.
The women’s events will also begin Thursday with BYU freshman phenom Jane Hedengren, alongside teammate Jenna Hutchins, making her national championship debut in the 10,000 meters final at 8 p.m. PT.
Thursday’s events will be full of BYU blue with Carlee Hansen-Thompson and Carmen Alder competing in the 1500 meters, Raygan Peterson and Taylor Lovell competing in the 3000-meter Steeplechase Semifinal and Paje Rasmussen competing in the 100 meters and 200 meters semifinal.
The national competition will continue through Saturday.