Courtesy of Utah State

LOGAN, Utah — Junior Landon Bott broke the 49-year-old Utah State record in the men’s 800 meters as Utah State track & field athletes claimed five titles and 12 podium finishes while posting a total of eight top-10 performances in school history at the Roman Ruiz Speed and Power Invitational in Logan, Utah, and the UW Invitational in Seattle, Washington, on Friday.

Bott’s record-setting time of 1:47.79 came in front of the Aggie faithful in the 800-meter invitational race at the Roman Ruiz Speed and Power Invitational. The two-time Mountain West champion at the distance bested the previous record of 1:48.10 set by U.S. Olympian and three-time NCAA champion Mark Enyeart in 1977. Bott also broke the previous George Nelson Fieldhouse record of 1:51.88, set by BYU’s Jason Pyrah in 1994, by over four seconds. His converted time of 1:45.72, standardized for altitude and track type, ranks higher than any performance in the country heading into this weekend’s competitions.

Juniors Samuel Green and Ernest Green finished second and third in the race, clocking in with respective times of 1:53.48 and 1:53.82. The twins’ converted times of 1:51.30 and 1:51.64 rank eighth and 12th in the MW.

Sophomore Taite Priestley won the high jump competition with a personal-best clearance of 2.14 meters (7-0.25). The Preston, Idaho, product moved into a tie for seventh in Aggie history with his jump, which also ranks third in the conference and 22nd in Division I so far this season.

A pair of Aggie throwers set season bests en route to podium finishes in the weight throw on Friday. Senior Milly Garren launched a throw of 17.37 meters (57-0) to place second in the women’s competition while junior Joseph Turner posted a mark of 17.33 meters (56-10.25) to finish third on the men’s side.

Senior Sophie Chandler and freshman Gracynn Smith took first and second in the pentathlon competition with respective scores of 3,564 points and 3,282 points. The pair each set two personal bests over the five events, with Chandler’s coming in 60-meter hurdles and shot put and Smith’s in the 60-meter hurdles and 800 meters.

In Seattle, sophomore Jayden Holdsworth and graduate Logan Garnica claimed the top-two spots in the open section of the men’s 3,000 meters, crossing the line in 7:58.18 and 7:59.79, respectively. Holdsworth moved into second place in USU history, behind only nine-time All-American Dillon Maggard’s standard of 7:52.99, while Garnica set a new personal best and now ranks fourth all-time. The pair joined Maggard and senior teammate LJ Floyd as the only Aggies to ever break eight minutes in the 3,000 meters.

Junior Joshua Armstrong raced in the invite section of the men’s 3,000 meters, finishing in 8:01.43 to place fifth among collegiate runners and ninth overall. His time moved him into fifth place all-time, just behind Garnica’s time set earlier in the afternoon.

Juniors Shelby Jensen and Natalie Swain added to the Aggies’ success with their performances in the women’s 3,000 meters, finishing with respective times of 9:24.96 and 9:26.97. Jensen moved from ninth to third in Utah State history in the event and Swain vaulted into fourth all-time. The All-MW honorees placed 15th and 18th in the competition at the UW Invitational.

Floyd made his own mark on the USU record book as he dominated the field in the men’s 5,000 meters, crossing the line first in 13:47.78. Sophomore Joshua McKee took second place with a time of 14:06.50. Floyd’s run moved him into second place in Aggie history, once again behind Maggard’s time of 13:40.59, while McKee moved into 10th all-time.

Freshman Sally Roos clocked in at 2:11.54 in the women’s 800 meters, posting a time that ranks eighth in USU history in the event. The Redmond, Washington, native finished 19th overall in the competition in her home state.

Utah State will host the second day of the Roman Ruiz Speed and Power Invitational tomorrow. In Seattle, select distance runners will compete at the Mile City competition tomorrow.

Fans can follow the Utah State track and field programs on X at USUTF_XC, on Facebook at USUTrack and on Instagram at USUTF_XC. Aggies fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on X at USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

Roman Ruiz Speed and Power Invitational
George Nelson Fieldhouse | Logan, Utah | January 30, 2026

USU Men’s Results:

Event (Section) USU Finishers
800 Meters (Invite) 1. Landon Bott, 1:47.79; 2. Samuel Green, 1:53.48; 3. Ernest Green, 1:53.82; 4. Tayshaun Ogomo, 2:04.91; 5. Caleb Armstrong, 2:23.07; Caleb White, DNF.
High Jump 1. Taite Priestley, 2.14 meters (7-0.25).
Weight Throw 3. Joseph Turner, 17.33 meters (56-10.25); 7. Blake Johns, 16.68 meters (54-8.75).

USU Women’s Results:

Event USU Finishers
High Jump 7. Madeline Carmona, 1.55 meters (5-1).
Weight Throw 2. Milly Garren, 17.37 meters (57-0); 7. Ruby Jordan, 16.43 meters (53-11); Reagan Trulson, 11.94 meters (39-2.25).

USU Women’s Multi-Event Results:

Event USU Finishers
800 Meters 1. Gracynn Smith, 2:21.09; 2. Sophie Chandler, 2:24.07.
60-Meter Hurdles 1. Gracynn Smith, 9.09; 2. Sophie Chandler, 9.11.
High Jump 2. Sophie Chandler, 1.54 meters (5-0.5); 3. Gracynn Smith, 1.54 meters (5-0.5).
Long Jump 2. Sophie Chandler, 5.20 meters (17-0.75); 3. Gracynn Smith, 4.97 meters (16-3.75).
Shot Put 2. Sophie Chandler, 11.50 meters (37-8.75); 6. Gracynn Smith, 7.51 meters (24-7.75).
Pentathlon 1. Sophie Chandler, 3,564 points; 2. Gracynn Smith, 3,282 points.

UW Invitational
Dempsey Indoor | Seattle, Washington | January 30, 2026

USU Men’s Results:

Event (Section) USU Finishers
3,000 Meters (Open) 1. Jayden Holdsworth, 7:58.18; 2. Logan Garnica, 7:59.79.
3,000 Meters (Invite) 9. Joshua Armstrong, 8:01.43.
5,000 Meters (Invite) 1. LJ Floyd, 13:47.78; 2. Joshua McKee, 14:06.50; 4. John Simmons, 14:08.36; 6. Garrett Woodhouse, 14:09.41; 8. Bryce Hill, 14:12.76; 10. Michael Amitava Maiorano, 14:18.37; Joseph McKee, 14:50.53.

USU Women’s Results:

Event USU Finishers
800 Meters 19. Sally Roos, 2:11.54.
3,000 Meters (Open) 15. Shelby Jensen, 9:24.96; 19. Natalie Swain, 9:26.97; 34. Sarah Ellis, 9:41.04; 38. Malia Lowe, 9:42.90; 46. Brie Smith, 9:52.84.

-USU-

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