Holdsworth, Jensen Set School Records as Utah State Track & Field Opens Final Regular Season Weekend

Courtesy of Utah State Athletics 

SEATTLE — Sophomore Jayden Holdsworth and junior Shelby Jensen broke the USU records in the men’s mile and the women’s 3,000 meters, respectively, as Utah State track & field athletes claimed two titles, five podium finishes and an additional five performances ranking in the top 10 all-time at the Washington-hosted Husky Classic in Seattle, Washington, the Idaho State-hosted Mountain States Games in Pocatello, Idaho, the New Mexico-hosted Don Kirby Elite Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Arkansas-hosted Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Friday.

Holdsworth became the first-ever Aggie to run a sub-4:00 mile, crossing the line in 3:59.90. He broke Devin Pancake’s 2022 record of 4:00.36 en route to a 13th-place finish in the Invitational section of the Husky Classic men’s mile competition. The SLCC transfer accomplished the historic feat in his second mile race in an Aggie uniform, having posted an altitude-converted time of 4:07.04 at the Snake River Open last month.

Jensen’s record-breaking run came in the fifth heat of the women’s 3,000 meters in Seattle, where she took third in her heat and 15th overall with her time of 9:21.31. The outdoor All-American, who also owns USU’s 3,000-meter steeplechase record, topped Cierra Simmons-Mecham’s time of 9:23.86 from 2019. Jensen improved upon her previous personal best of 9:24.96, which she set two weeks ago at the same Dempsey Indoor track, by three-and-a-half seconds.

Senior LJ Floyd continued his stellar indoor campaign with his run of 7:57.76 in the men’s 3,000 meters, finishing fourth in the fourth heat and 19th overall. Floyd’s run moved him from third to second in USU history in the event, vaulting his teammate Holdsworth and marking his second top-two run all-time in as many meets on the fast Seattle track.

The Aggie women had a strong showing in the 5,000 meters. Senior Sarah Ellis finished in 16:20.05, placing 12th overall and improving on her previous personal best by 4.25 seconds as she moved from fifth to third in USU history. Junior Brie Smith finished fourth in the opening heat and 19th overall with her time of 16:42.98, which ranks 10th in Aggie history. Freshman Hailey Shakespear crossed the line in 16:47.20 in her first collegiate 5,000-meter race, a time that currently ranks first among all Mountain West freshmen.

USU’s success in the Emerald City extended to the throwers’ cage, as senior Milly Garren uncorked a throw of 17.36 meters (56-11.5) to take third place in the women’s weight throw.

At the Don Kirby Elite Invitational, sophomore Emmanuella Njenje clocked in at 24.21 in the women’s 200 meters, a time that ranks sixth in USU history in the event. Her personal-best time was good for third in the fourth heat and 22nd overall in the unseeded field.

In Pocatello, sophomore Sabrina Fairbanks cleared a meet-high 3.85 meters (12-7.5) to take second place in the women’s pole vault. She elevated her own seventh-ranked performance in USU history as she set her third indoor personal best in four meets.

Sophomore Meredith Sanford won the women’s 5,000 meters, finishing with a personal-best time of 17:26.09. After standardizing to 17:02.07 for altitude, Sanford’s time ranks 11th among  MW athletes prior to this weekend’s events.

Aggie squads placed first and third in the women’s DMR. The quartet of junior Caroline Moon, sophomore Ava Smith, freshman Taylor Palmer and junior Camilla McKinstry finished first with a time of 12:03.72, with the team of freshman Sally Roos, sophomore Shay Jones, freshman Jane Roos and senior Liz Phillips clocking in at 12:06.66.

Six Aggies qualified for Saturday’s finals in their respective events. Jones finished in 55.02 to place second in the 400-meter prelims, followed by junior teammate Claire Petersen’s fourth-place time of 56.01. Freshman Tayshaun Ogomo and Jane Roos made their respective finals in the 800 meters, with Ogomo’s time of 1:51.72 qualifying second in the men’s field and Roos’s 2:16.15 placing sixth in the women’s prelims. Junior Elle Jacobson qualified ninth in the women’s 60 meters and freshman Caleb White finished 10th in the men’s 400-meter prelims.

Sophomore Brock Bissegger led the Aggie shot put contingent with a fifth-place mark of 15.54 meters (51-0). USU track and field alumni Kyle Morris and Gavin Beierle, competing unattached, claimed the top-two spots with their respective throws of 17.33 meters (56-10.25) and 16.37 meters (53-8.5).

USU will conclude its four weekend meets, and its regular season, 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.

Husky Classic
Dempsey Indoor | Seattle, Washington | February 13, 2026

USU Men’s Results:

USU Women’s Results:

Don Kirby Elite Invitational
Albuquerque Convention Center | Albuquerque, New Mexico | February 13, 2026

USU Men’s Results:

USU Women’s Results:

Mountain States Games
ICCU Dome | Pocatello, Idaho | February 13, 2026

USU Men’s Results:

USU Women’s Results:

Tyson Invitational
Randal Tyson Track Center | Fayetteville, Arkansas | February 13, 2026

USU Men’s Results:

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