(St. George - March 21, 2025) - Utah Tech track & field opened its outdoor season by setting two program records and tallying 12 top-eight finishes on the first day of the Utah Tech Invitational at Greater Zion Stadium on Friday. 

"It was a really good meet," head coach Derrick Atkins said. "I told the team, 'This is our house: protect it,' and we did that today. I'm pretty pleased with a lot of our performances. A lot of personal bests in terms of we're just getting better. Slingshotting from indoor to outdoor and just kind of keeping up all that. Right now, the key for us outdoors is staying healthy and if we stay healthy we're growing fast."

Junior Lainee Leavitt set a program record when she cleared 1.65 meters (5-5) to win the high jump. Senior Kylie Bishop matched that mark and took second in the event. 

In the 200 meters, senior Rashawnna Gibson broke her previous program record of 24.53 with a blazing time of 24.35 to take third. Sophomore Whitney Christiansen took fifth at 24.58 and freshman Adaorah Okafor placed eighth at 25.15.

Sophomore Averie Perriton finished fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:36.26 to kickoff events on the track. Senior Kinley Spaulding came in next to take fifth at 11:56.65.

In the 400 meters, four Trailblazers placed in the top eight. Junior Megan Jenkins led the way, taking second with a time of 59.68. Freshman Ilenia DeHart finished fifth at 1:02.48, senior Brittany Kuhn took sixth at 1:02.86 and junior Madelynne Crawford placed eighth at 1:04.87.

Freshman Isabela Coffman finished seventh in the 5,000 meters with a time of 17:59.64.

Tomorrow, events begin in the field with the women's javelin at 10 a.m. and on the track with the women's 4x100-meter relay at 11 a.m.

"I'm big on the relays," Atkins said. "That's the only event in track and field that's a team event. For us, starting the meet with the 4x100 and ending it good with the 4x400, but I'm looking forward to everything."

The Trailblazers will also honor their nine seniors at 10 a.m.

Top Eight Finishes

• High Jump
  • 1. Lainee Leavitt, 1.65 meters (5-5) - PROGRAM RECORD
  • 2. Kylie Bishop, 1.65 meters (5-5)
• 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
  • 4. Averie Perriton, 11:36.26
  • 5. Kinley Spaulding, 11:56.65
• 200 Meters
  • 3. Rashawnna Gibson, 24.35 - PROGRAM RECORD
  • 5. Whitney Christiansen, 24.58
  • 8. Adaorah Okafor, 25.15
• 400-Meter Hurdles
  • 2. Megan Jenkins, 59.68
  • 5. Ilenia DeHart, 1:02.48
  • 6. Brittany Kuhn, 1:02.86
  • 8. Madelynne Crawford, 1:04.87
• 5,000 Meters
  • 7. Isabela Coffman, 17:59.64

Up Next
The Trailblazers finish the Utah Tech Invitational tomorrow, March 22, at Greater Zion Stadium in St. George.