BYU freshman sensation Jane Hedengren broke the NCAA outdoor 5,000-meter record on Friday at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California.
Dominantly, Hedengren ran 14:50.50, smashing Florida’s Parker Valby’s previous collegiate record by more than one second in her first-ever outdoor 5,000-meter race. Hedengren led wire-to-wire, pulling away decisively over the final 2,000 meters, winning by more than eight seconds. BYU alum Lexy Halladay-Lowry placed second running for Nike.
The win gave the former Timpview High superstar her third NCAA record. She already owned the indoor 5,000- and the 10,000-meter outdoor records, the latter set just two weeks earlier.
The Cougar phenom was so far ahead of the field when she finished, she turned around and cheered on those she was competing against as they came across the finish line. She hardly looked like she had lost any energy.
Hedengren’s performance came on the same track she had broken the high school national record the previous year.
“Yeah, last year really, really enjoyed this meet,” said Hedengren.
“I’m just privileged to come back, especially coming back now in college with the team. I had fun last year and had some fun tonight and both were great opportunities,” said the freshman right after the Friday night’s race to reporters.
Dropping an early pacer and taking off on her own, Hedengren said she was always going to have a bit of a pace in mind.
“I think that pace was faster than what I ended up running today,” she said. “But that’s good. We just keep looking forward and we’re in a good spot and I’m confident in that. It just didn’t quite show through how we wanted it today and I just kept moving forward and now celebrating.”
Hedengren spoke about running the 5,000 and 10,000 this season, calling it “a blessing,” and she plans on adding the 1,500 this season too. “It’s a privilege to get to try it all, and that’s something I love so much about this sport.”