Eriksen Sets New School Record for Third-Consecutive Weekend

SEATTLE / ALBQUERQUE – The Utah track & field team had an excellent start to its weekend, highlighted with several PRs and of course a third-straight weekend that features Josefine Eriksen breaking yet another school record, this time in the 600m at the Don Kirby Elite Invitational.
 
All eyes were back on Eriksen as she stepped on the track at the ABQ Convention Center in the 600m run and she did not disappoint. The Stavern, Norway, product led the entire way to win the race and finished with a blazing speed of 1:28.27 – which not only broke the Utah program record but also the Norwegian indoor record that was previously held by Hedda Hynne (1:29.06) set back on June 11, 2020 (women's only race). In addition, Eriksen broke the facility record at the ABQ Convention Center with her time, which will also likely rank in the top-5 so far this season among NCAA competitors.
 
Teammate Jasie York also ran a personal-best time in the 600m alongside Eriksen posting a mark of 1:33.33 for third overall while also placing herself ninth overall in the school record books. In her first 600m race, Bailey Kealamakia recorded a time of 1:38.45 for sixth overall while Ruby Jane Mathewson won her section with a new best time of 1:40.27 for eighth overall.
 
Maya LeBar was the first Ute to take the track in ABQ for Utah and posted a new PR time of 24.71 (aa) to move into third on the all-time list in the 200m dash. LeBar's time was good for fourth overall in the race while sophomore Kelise Davis sprinted a 24.85 (aa) for eighth overall and also inserted herself into fourth on the all-time best list for the Utes. Taylor Watson closed the group out with a time of 26.26 (aa).
 
Over in the Pacific Northwest at the Husky Classic, the distance crew also saw a ton of success on the track with PRs and movement in the record books as well. Hannah Butler kicked things off for Utah with a new PR in the 3000m, besting her previous mark that was set back in 2019 after finishing in 9:44.21. In her second 3k indoor race, Morgan Jensen smashed her previous time of 10:05.49 (UW Invitational) with a mark of 9:47.06 on Friday at the Husky Classic. Meanwhile, Karli Branch clocked a time of 9:49.56 in her first ever 3000m indoor race.
 
Emily Venters once again etched herself into the history books, running a 15:48.02 in the 5000m race and overtook second-place all-time from Cara Woolnough – who also ran a new PR time of 16:02.84, which is now third-best all-time. Venter's mark of 15:48.02 will likely rank in the top-25 after this weekend in the NCAA while Woolnough's mark would likely put her in the top-40.
 
The Women of Utah return for day two action on Saturday at both the Husky Classic and Don Kirby Elite Invitational. Rachel Whipple will open things up for the Utes in the 400m dash inside Dempsey Indoor Track while Kealamakia and Mathewson kick thing off for the track crew over at the ABQ Convention Center.
 
For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 
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