She’s bright, motivated, talented, driven and young. This is BYU freshman Jane Hedengren, one of the favorites to win medals at the NCAA West Regional in Fayetteville, Arkansas, this week and advance toward earning national titles outdoors, like she did indoors.
For a rookie, that’s not too shabby.
Question of the week
Is BYU freshman Jane Hedengren a lock to win at least one title at the NCAA West Regional in Fayetteville this week?
Jay Drew: Freshman Jane Hedengren is quickly making a case to be considered one of the most dominant first-year athletes in BYU sports history, right along with football’s Bear Bachmeier and basketball’s AJ Dybantsa.
She can add to that legacy this week at the NCAA West Preliminary Round.
I’m no track and field expert, but I believe Hedengren will be one of the favorites to win both events she is entered in at John McDonnell Field, one of the premier venues for track and field in the country. I just asked AI, and was told that Hedengren will be a “heavy favorite” in both events. So there’s that.
I don’t think she is necessarily a lock, but should at least make the podium in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters, especially after she broke NCAA records in both events this past season. How’s that for a hedge?
Crazy things can happen when some of the best athletes in the world get together for the NCAA championships. I do know that Hedengren was recently named the Big 12 Women’s Outstanding Freshman of the Year, so that is another feather in her cap.
She recently won the 5,000 meters at the Big 12 championships, and was runner-up in the 1,500, an event in which she won’t compete in Arkansas.
Dick Harmon: It’s hard to remember that Jane Hedengren is still a teenager. She’s very young and while she has seen a lot of national and world competition already in her life, she remains a work in progress as far as reaching her full potential. And for her competitors, that is scary.
I think expectations are almost through the roof for Jane this week and the following final NCAA championships in mid-June in Eugene, Oregon. She’s mowed down 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter records already and ran away with some of those races and is an indoor NCAA champion as a freshman. It would be disappointing for her not to be near the finish line, if not first in both these distance events in Fayetteville.
Pressure? She doesn’t seem fazed by the stage she competes in nor the competitors who line up beside her. Her mental preparation and approach is just as impressive as her physical dominance in a sport that requires tremendous endurance, focus and energy.
One thing you can probably count on is at least one title for sure. A sweep isn’t out of the question.
Cougar tales
LJ Martin is the Big 12’s leading rusher and he returns for the Cougars. Here is Dave McCann’s piece on what he could do in 2026.
The top recruit in Utah’s class of 2026 has BYU and Utah in his final four.
The BYU baseball team defeated Texas Tech to advance in the Big 12 tournament then faltered against Baylor. Tyler Mrus, the lone BYU transfer left to find a home, has landed, and you can discover where here.
Here is my commentary on the proposed expansion of the CFP to 24 teams.
Here is Jackson Payne’s look back at AJ Dybantsa’s best performances.
From the archives
From X-verse
Extra points
- Dawson Baker grinding to return (Deseret News)
- What will Bear do for encore? (Deseret News)
- New 5-year rule OK as long as missions protected (Deseret News)
Fanalysts
Comments from Deseret News readers:
There is a simple fix to all the whining about 24. The P4s get four auto bids, each selected by the conference. Yes, the CONFERENCE! Each conference puts into play their own selection criteria, tie breakers, and choose their own reps to the playoff. They know better than anyone else who should be their reps. The two highest ranked G6 schools get an auto bid and the rest (6) become at-large and the committee gets to give those to whatever schools it wants. The conferences get a say (four autos), the Gs are repped, and the committee gets to choose 6 at large.
— OriginalflyinHawaii
Many people forget the transformation of Sitaki as a head coach. He fumbled the ball right out of the gate with trying to run the offense and defenses. He fired an NFL veteran offensive coach (Detmer) because he wouldn’t let Detmer use a passing game, and did the same with Grimes, until the Famous Idaho Bowl, where BYU only passed the ball 18 times, but completed all 18 for more than twice the yards the 46-play running game produced. Then his boyhood buddy, Tuiaki (sp) couldn’t produce as a defensive coach, so BYU hired Hill. Now that Sitaki has learned not to be all things as a coach, and lets his assistants do what they do best, he is thriving. Sitaki is a Mark Pope type of guy (only better) as a motivator and recruiter. Now lets see if he can land a few 5-star recruits! If (when) that happens, then BYU is going to get serious attention from the football powers and media. This year will be a water mark year to see who BYU really is as a football program. If they do as well (or better) than last year, BYU will be in prime position to join one of the two true power conferences (BIG10 or SEC) when the next conference realignment happens.
— Water Rocket
Up next
- May 27-29| TBA | track and field | NCAA West Regional, Fayetteville
- June 10 | 2 p.m. | men’s golf | NCAA Championships, La Costa, California
- June 10-13 | 2 p.m. | track and field | NCAA championships, Eugene