BYU's men's and women's cross country teams dominated the UVU Invitational on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, to open their seasons with decisive victories. The Cougars' men's squad earned 17 points to secure the win, while the No. 4 ranked women's team captured seven of the top 10 positions at Scera Park.
Men's Dominance at Scera Park
The men's team secured its sixth consecutive opening-meet victory by sweeping the top four positions. Sophomore Tayvon Kitchen led the charge with a time of 13:21.4, setting an unofficial course record and finishing 30 seconds ahead of the field. According to BYU Athletics, Kitchen's performance matched his momentum from the 2025 season.
Key Men's Performers
Junior Dalton Mortensen achieved his highest-ever collegiate finish, placing second with a time of 13:51.6. Mortensen noted that the team strategy involved packing together through the first mile and a half before accelerating in the final stretch. He was followed by teammate Noah Jenkins in third at 13:58.7 and Hunter Kitchen in fourth at 14:01.4, both of whom out-kicked Utah Valley's Sila Kiplagat.
Scoring Depth for BYU Men
Jefferson McMullin made his collegiate cross country debut for the Cougars, finishing seventh with a time of 14:17.8 to serve as the team's fifth scorer. The team's total of 17 points ensured the victory. BYU head coach Ed Eyestone remarked that the performance was a positive start to the season, noting that Kitchen maintained a high pace throughout the race.
Women's Record-Breaking Victory
On the women's side, the No. 4 ranked BYU squad finished with 19 points, claiming seven of the top 10 individual spots. Jane Hedengren, the previous year's NCAA runner-up, took first place with a time of 15:08.62. Her performance broke the Scera Park course record by over a minute, surpassing the previous mark of 16:24.0.
Women's Scoring Details
The women's scoring included Jenna Hutchins in third (15:44.65), Taylor Lovell in fourth (16:04.57), and Lexi Goff-Thompson in fifth (16:10.28). Nelah Roberts rounded out the scoring in sixth (16:13.16). Sophomore Zariel Macchia finished seventh and transfer Karrie Baloga finished eighth. BYU head coach Diljeet Taylor praised the team's energy and chemistry during the season opener.
Utah Valley Performance
Utah Valley University saw both programs finish as runners-up. In the women's race, Caren Kipsirat made her collegiate cross country debut by finishing second with a time of 15:41.42. Kipsirat ran stride for stride with Hedengren before the BYU runner pulled away. UVU's Reagan Doman finished ninth, while Sophia Biesinger took 19th.
UVU Men's Results Overview
The UVU men's team also finished second with 54 points. Sophomore Sila Kiplagat led the Wolverines with a fifth-place finish at 14:02.45. He was followed by Alex Hartshorn in sixth and Trey Despain in ninth. UVU head coach Scott Houle expressed pride in the team's depth and the strong start from Kiplagat.
