BYU’s James Corrigan won the 3000-meter steeplechase at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in Waco, Texas, over the weekend.
With a time of 8:29.24, Corrigan became the first Cougar to win an individual men’s championship in the Big 12.
“I felt great with the race tonight,” Corrigan said. “I’m proud of the team’s effort. The race itself went well. It was a strategic move to go out really quick. I think we all handled it well and settled in. Our focus became ‘Score, Score, Score.’”
Corrigan, a sophomore from Los Angeles, topped the conference record in the event (previously 8:32.59) while running under the Olympic qualifying standard for the event.
“It was a really amazing race on his part,” said director of track and field Ed Eyestone. “We knew he was fit coming in. He came back from the Payton Jordan Invitational with a new personal best. I knew that if tonight’s race started the pace off hot he would be able to cover anything. He was reminiscent of his former teammate Kenneth Rooks. It was a big time performance for James, so we are super happy for him.”
A podium for the Utes
The Utah track and field finished the final Pac-12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 22 points, the third-highest total for the Utes ever at the event.
Utah’s Josefine Eriksen had a podium finish, taking third in the the 800 meters and breaking her own school record (2:01.58) in the process.
BYU names new swim coach
Tamber McAllister has been named the Cougars’ swimming and diving head coach.
“It is an honor to serve as the head coach of swimming and diving as we continue to embark on our journey into the Big 12 Conference,” she said in a news release. “The legacy established by previous BYU coaches has laid a strong foundation for the team’s future success, and I am genuinely thankful for that. The unwavering pride and spirit of the Cougars is unparalleled, and I eagerly look forward to remaining a part of it.”
McAllister replaces the retired Shari Skabelund, whom McAllister worked under as an assistant coach from 2021-2024.
Bees ace honored
Salt Lake Bees pitcher Brett Kerry has been named the Pacific Coast League’s pitcher of the week.
Kerry, in his fourth season with the Los Angeles Angels organization, threw eight complete innings, giving up just three hits and one run, on Friday against the Sacramento Rivercats.
A fifth-round pick in 2021, Kerry has a 3.42 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 23.2 innings this season. This is the third time Kerry has won the PCL’s pitcher of the week award.
The Bees went 5-1 during their homestand against Sacramento.
Rugby stumbles
The Utah Warriors rugby team suffered a 20-19 defeat against the Miami Sharks on Saturday.
Utah’s Fatongia Paea scored his first try for the Warriors in extra time. But Warriors coach Greg Cooper wasn’t pleased with his team’s effort.
“We probably didn’t deserve it, to be honest,” Cooper said of securing a bonus point. “The fact that we showed some courage to come back and get it is promising, and it just shows that we won’t give in. But again, we just sort of went into our shells, a little, and didn’t execute what we talked about this week.”
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