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Arguably the top distance runner in Utah Valley University history will be among the favorites in two events at next week's NCAA track and field championships at the University of Texas in Austin.
She won't be the only targeted harrier from the Beehive State, though.
Two days after winning the 10,000-meter run at the NCAA West preliminary regional in Sacramento, California, UVU senior Everlyn Kemboi led three-straight Utah runners in the 5,000-meter semifinal, finishing in 15 minutes, 30.25 seconds at Hornet Stadium on the campus of Sacramento State.
Emily Venters and Simone Plourde finished second and third, respectively, with times of 15:34.60 and 15:34.64 to clinch two of the three championship bids from the 14th-ranked Utah women.
As was demonstrated during cross country season in the final, the nation's top distance athletes often pass through Utah.
"She's an amazing runner and has a shot to go on a do some great things in two weeks," Utah Valley coach Scott Houle said of Kemboi, the two-time All-American from Metkei, Kenya, whose collegiate career started at Arizona and passed through El Paso Community College before arriving in Orem. "She's proven to be one of the top distance runners in the history of the NCAA. I'm proud of her efforts and what she's done for us and am looking forward to seeing what she can do in Austin."
OTF | Everlyn Kemboi wins 5k at NCAA West Prelims and will now compete in two finals (10k, 5k) at NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas.
— UVU XC / Track & Field (@UVUxctf) May 28, 2023
Recap: https://t.co/mConhNW8Yk#GoUVU#UVU#NCAAotfpic.twitter.com/hgqfh4OI22
Kemboi is the first athlete in Utah Valley women's track and field history to qualify for multiple events at the NCAA championships, which will be held June 7-10 at Texas.
She'll be joined by plenty of in-state competition, including Venters and Plourde, the dynamic duo who also finished 1-2 in the 5,000 to book their spots at nationals.
Plourde, a BYU transfer from Montreal, Canada, and Venters, a Lawrence, Kansas, native who transferred from Boise State and Colorado, are joined by Utah's third national qualifier in Dinedye Denis. The Kansas City-born hurdler and Morgan State and Albany transfer set a personal-best time of 57.12 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles to qualify for Austin.
On the men's track and field side, Southern Utah will be represented by Cedar English and Astley Davis in the long jump and triple jump, respectively. English leapt 7.72 meters in the long jump for the fifth-best mark in the west, while Davis added 51 feet, 7.25 inches in the triple jump for the ninth-best performance in the west.
No. 19 BYU cleaned up with national qualifiers, including the return of reigning NCAA javelin champion Ashton Riner-Lunt to the national stage and Aubrey Frentheway's fourth-place finish in the 10,000-meters in 32:28.85.
BYU's 4x400-meter relay team of Meghan Hunter, Claire Seymour, Brilee Pontiius and Marianne Barber clocked a school-record time of 3:32.88 to book a spot at nationals, following another school record in the 4x100-meter relay set by Adaobi Tabugbo, Jaslyn Gardner, Dolita Shaw and Marianne Barber with a time of 32.84 for the program's first-ever national entry in the event.
Claire Seymour, Lexy Halladay-Lowry and Cierra Tidwell Allphin also added a national qualifying mark.
On the men's side, Kenneth Rooks — the American collegiate record-holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase — finished first in his heat with a winning time of 8:25.06 to cruise into nationals for the 14th-ranked Cougars. He was joined by teammates Dallin Shurts in the discus (58.20M), Cameron Bates in the javelin (70.89M), Caleb Witsken in the pole vault (5.40M), Casey Clinger and Brandon Garnica in the 10,000 (28;23.41 and 28:24.05, respectively), and the 4x400-meter relay team.
Austin isn't ready for these two😎 pic.twitter.com/rKNNcdT8Y0
— BYU Track & Field/Cross Country (@BYUTFXC) May 28, 2023
Clinger also added a 5,000-meter entry with a time of 13:36.27.
Weber State junior Bronson Winter finished with a career-best time of 8:38.92 to qualify for nationals in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the eighth-fastest mark in Weber State history.
Here's a look at every qualifier in each event from the state of Utah for the NCAA outdoor championships, which will be televised on ESPNU.
BYU
- Cierra Tidwell Allphin, high jump (1.82M)
- Adaobi Tabugbo, Jaslyn Gardner, Dolita Shaw and Marianne Barber; 4x100M relay (43.84)
- Lexy Halladay-Lowry, steeplechase (9:46.02)
- Claire Seymour, 800M (2:04.75)
- Meghan Hunter, 800M (2:05.35)
- Meghan Hunter, Marianne Barber, Brilee Pontius, Claire Seymour; 4x400M relay (3:32.88)
- Ashton Riner-Lunt, javelin (55.57M)
- Aubrey Frentheway, 10000M (32:28.85)
- Cameron Bates, javelin (70.89M)
- Caleb Witsken, pole vault (5.40M)
- Brandon Garnica, 10000M (28:24.05)
- Casey Cllinger, 10000M (28:23.41)
- Dallin Shurts, discus (58.20M)
- Kenneth Rooks, steeplechase (8:25.05)
- Casey Clinger, 5000M (13:36.27)
- Eli Hazlett, Jace Jensen, Landon Maxfield, Josh Taylor; 4x400M relay (3:04.16)
Southern Utah
- Astley Davis, triple jump (51'7.25")
- Cedar English, long jump (25'4")
The dynamic duo of 𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 and 𝗦𝗜𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗗𝗘 finish 1⃣-2⃣ in the 5000m race to secure spots in two events at #NCAATF Championships in Austin‼️#GoUtes | #UtahTFXCpic.twitter.com/a6F1H1v5UD
— Utah T&F/XC (@Utah_trackfield) May 28, 2023
Utah
- Simone Plourde, 5000M (15:34.64)
- Emily Venters, 5000M (15:34.60)
- Dinedye Denis, 400M hurdles (57.12)
- Simone Plourde, 1500M (4:08.70)
- Emily Venters, 10000M (32:20.81)
Utah Valley
- Everlyn Kemboi, 10000M (32:05.56)
- Everlyn Kemboi, 5000M (15:30.25)
Weber State
- Bronson Winter, steeplechase (8:38.92)
