College Sports
Utah State Men Battle on Third Day of NCAA West First Rounds
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Utah State’s men’s track & field team fielded 10 athletes in five events at the 2025 NCAA West First Rounds in College Station, Texas, on Friday. The men’s 4×100-meter relay team, comprised of freshmen Daniel Chase, Ayodele Ojo, Mathew Hall and Diego Aguirre-Stewart, led the way for the Aggies, finishing […]
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Utah State’s men’s track & field team fielded 10 athletes in five events at the 2025 NCAA West First Rounds in College Station, Texas, on Friday.
The men’s 4×100-meter relay team, comprised of freshmen Daniel Chase, Ayodele Ojo, Mathew Hall and Diego Aguirre-Stewart, led the way for the Aggies, finishing in a time of 39.54 that finished one-tenth of a second shy of qualifying for the national championships, The quartet, who are the only relay team at the NCAA West First Rounds comprised of entirely freshmen, also posted the third-fastest time in Utah State history in the event.
A pair of Aggies competed in the second heat of the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Sophomore Garrett Woodhouse clocked in at 8:51.69 to finish seventh in the heat and 20th in the field, improving on his starting seed by 14 places. Junior Logan Garnica finished in 9:48.24 to take 46th place overall, capping off a 2024-25 athletic campaign that included setting the Utah State record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and earning the NCAA Elite 90 Award at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
Senior Nate Franz and sophomore Joseph Turner got things started for the Aggies in the discus on Friday. Franz placed 30th in the competition with a throw of 54.95 meters (180-3), finishing his Aggie career with four all-time top-10 marks and two Mountain West silver medals. Turner, who joined Franz on the discus podium at the MW Outdoor Championships, posted a mark of 50.37 meters (165-3) to finish 44th. Each of the throwers made their first career appearance at the NCAA West First Rounds.
Freshman Taite Priestley capped off his stellar debut in a Utah State uniform by clearing 2.09 meters (6-10.25) in the high jump to tie for 25th in the competition. The Preston, Idaho, product matched the height he cleared two weeks ago to claim a bronze medal at the MW Outdoor Championships.
Sophomore Landon Bott competed in the quarterfinals of the 800 meters, where he placed sixth in his heat and 21st overall with a time of 1:49.14. Bott, who won MW gold medals in the indoor and outdoor 800 meters, made his second consecutive appearance in the NCAA West quarterfinals.
Saturday’s competition will turn back to the women’s side, where sophomore Shelby Jensen will feature in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and a pair of Aggies, senior Emma Thornley and junior Sarah Ellis, will race in the 5,000 meters. Live coverage will continue from College Station on ESPN+.
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.
2025 NCAA West First Rounds – Day 3
E.B. Cushing Stadium | College Station, Texas | May 30, 2025
USU Men’s Results:
The men’s 4×100-meter relay team, comprised of freshmen Daniel Chase, Ayodele Ojo, Mathew Hall and Diego Aguirre-Stewart, led the way for the Aggies, finishing in a time of 39.54 that finished one-tenth of a second shy of qualifying for the national championships, The quartet, who are the only relay team at the NCAA West First Rounds comprised of entirely freshmen, also posted the third-fastest time in Utah State history in the event.
A pair of Aggies competed in the second heat of the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Sophomore Garrett Woodhouse clocked in at 8:51.69 to finish seventh in the heat and 20th in the field, improving on his starting seed by 14 places. Junior Logan Garnica finished in 9:48.24 to take 46th place overall, capping off a 2024-25 athletic campaign that included setting the Utah State record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and earning the NCAA Elite 90 Award at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
Senior Nate Franz and sophomore Joseph Turner got things started for the Aggies in the discus on Friday. Franz placed 30th in the competition with a throw of 54.95 meters (180-3), finishing his Aggie career with four all-time top-10 marks and two Mountain West silver medals. Turner, who joined Franz on the discus podium at the MW Outdoor Championships, posted a mark of 50.37 meters (165-3) to finish 44th. Each of the throwers made their first career appearance at the NCAA West First Rounds.
Freshman Taite Priestley capped off his stellar debut in a Utah State uniform by clearing 2.09 meters (6-10.25) in the high jump to tie for 25th in the competition. The Preston, Idaho, product matched the height he cleared two weeks ago to claim a bronze medal at the MW Outdoor Championships.
Sophomore Landon Bott competed in the quarterfinals of the 800 meters, where he placed sixth in his heat and 21st overall with a time of 1:49.14. Bott, who won MW gold medals in the indoor and outdoor 800 meters, made his second consecutive appearance in the NCAA West quarterfinals.
Saturday’s competition will turn back to the women’s side, where sophomore Shelby Jensen will feature in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and a pair of Aggies, senior Emma Thornley and junior Sarah Ellis, will race in the 5,000 meters. Live coverage will continue from College Station on ESPN+.
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.
2025 NCAA West First Rounds – Day 3
E.B. Cushing Stadium | College Station, Texas | May 30, 2025
USU Men’s Results:
| Event (Heat) | USU Finishers (qualifiers for next round in bold) |
| 800 Meters (2) | 6. Landon Bott, 1:49.14. |
| 3,000-Meter Steeplechase (2) | 7. Garrett Woodhouse, 8:51.69; 16. Logan Garnica, 9:48.24. |
| 4×100-Meter Relay (3) | 5. Utah State (Daniel Chase, Ayodele Ojo, Mathew Hall, Diego Aguirre-Stewart), 39.54. |
| High Jump | 25. Taite Priestley, 2.09 meters (6-10.25). |
| Discus | 30. Nate Franz, 54.95 meters (180-3); 44. Joseph Turner, 50.37 meters (165-3). |
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