BYU’s first conference championship of the Big 12 era was earned by the women’s cross country team Saturday.
The No. 4 Cougars tallied 35 points in the Big 12 cross country championship at Ames, Iowa, edging Oklahoma State’s 39 for the team league title.
Lexy Halladay-Lowry paced the BYU runners with a fourth-place finish in a time of 19:44.3. Jenna Hutchins (19:54.5) was sixth overall, followed by Carmen Alder (19:57.2), Aubrey Frentheway (19:58.0) and Riley Chamberlain (20:10.4) in eight, ninth and 10th, respectively.
“I love this team this year because there is no particular order. On any given day anyone can rise to the occasion,” BYU women’s cross country coach Diljeet Taylor said, per the team’s website.
“Lexy was our leader today and did a great job. Overall, this is a good stepping stone and a great way to enter the Big 12. We hope to represent the Big 12 well at nationals too.”
It’s the fifth straight conference championship for the BYU’s women’s cross country team, with the last four coming in the West Coast Conference.
On the men’s side, the Cougars took second place with 55 team points, trailing champion Oklahoma State’s 25.
Creed Thompson led all BYU runners by placing third in a time of 22:54.1, while Joey Nokes was sixth (23:01.9). James Corrigan was 13th in a time of 23:17.5, while Isaac Hedengren (23:21.2) and Lucas Bons (23:22.8) finished 16th and 17th, respectively.
The Cowboys won by placing five runners in the top 9, including individual champion Brian Musua in a time of 22:46.6.